Recap: Sox Fall to 0-2 with Loss To Royals

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Recap: Sox Fall to 0-2 with Loss to Royals

By Mario Scalise

April 2, 2003

SoxNet.net

 

The second game of the season saw the same results as the first for the White Sox, as missed opportunities and bad decisions led to a 5-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals.

 

Bartolo Colon made the start for the Sox, giving up three runs off four hits in six innings of work, while Royals' lefty Jeremy Affeldt gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings against a Sox lineup featuring eight right-handed hitters.

Offensively the Sox had 10 hits, three off the bat of Tony Graffanino, who started at shortstop in place of Jose Valentin, and two hits from Joe Crede. The Sox had an opportunity in the first with two men on and one out, but Magglio Ordonez and Paul Konerko struck out and grounded out to end the inning.

 

The Sox did, however, come up with the games first runs in the third. After second baseman D'Angelo Jimenez connected for his first hit of the season, Graffanino check-swinged a single to right field. Jimenez rounded second and forced a play at third, causing a bad throw from right fielder Dee Brown. Jimenez scored and Graffanino slide saftely into third.

 

Two batters later, Magglio Ordonez hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Graffanino and putting the Sox up 2-0.

 

The Royals responded in their half of the second with two runs off Colon. With one out, Michael Tucker walked and Joe Randa singled, putting runners on the corner. Mike Sweeney then singled in Tucker and Raul Ibanez tied the game up with a sacrifice fly to center.

 

Ibanez came through again in fifth, putting the Royals on top 3-2 with a RBI-double to score Angel Berroa.

 

Jason Grimsley relieved Affeldt and threw 1 1/3 inning before handing the ball over to Albie Lopez in the seventh. The Sox then tied the game at three with a single by Thomas. It was Thomas' only hit of the game.

 

Colon, who walked three and struck out two, was pulled in place of right-hander Rick White to start the seventh. A throwing error by Graffanino on a Angel Berroa grounder proved costly as two batters later, after striking out Tucker, White gave up a two-run home run to Randa. White then retired Sweeney on a popup, and Damaso Marte finished the inning. Billy Koch threw a 1-2-3 eighth.

 

The Sox made things happen with two outs in the eighth when Joe Crede doubled and then scored on an Armando Rios pinch-hit (for Rowand) single. Brian Daubach, who batted for Olivo, flied out to end the inning.

 

Down 5-4 in the ninth, the Sox had a small opportunity, only to come up empty. With Jimenez leading off with a walk, Graffanino fouled off three bunt attempts for an out and Thomas ended the game with a 6-4-3 double play. Mike MacDougal picked up the save.

 

Sandy Alomar started at catcher and went 1-3 and Konerko went 1-4 at first base.

 

The Sox wil play the finale of the three-game set on Thursday at 1:05 p.m. CT. Jon Garland will be up against righty Miguel Asencio.