Sean King for The Voice
The Chicago White Sox stormed back to beat Kansas City, 14-7, in the season opener March 29 with James Shields getting the road victory. It remains Shields’ lone victory this season, despite pitching well at times.
Twice last week, Shields, 1-3, was in line for a victory only to be undone by Sox relief pitching.
Early last week at St. Louis, Shields left after six innings, leading 2-1. He gave after giving up only two hits. Sox relief pitching allowed St. Louis a walkoff 3-2 victory.
Sunday against the Minnesota Twins might have been more painful for Shields than what went down in St. Louis.
Shields had a perfect game going into the sixth inning and a no-hitter going into the seventh inning. Yet, Shields was lucky not to be the losing pitcher in what turned out to be a 5-3 Minnesota victory.
The Twins got to Shields in the seventh inning. After giving up a run, Shields was pulled.
The Sox did score a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the score and take Shields off the hook for the defeat.
Shields has a 139-126 won-loss record in a Major League Baseball career that goes back to 2006. He has experienced tough defeats. Yet, to go six innings or more twice in a week’s time while allowing only two hits on each occasion and narrowly escape being the losing pitcher each time, can be unnerving.
The four-game series with the Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago last weekend was a microcosm of the season for the Sox.
The Sox opened the Twins series in a nice way with a 6-5 victory after trailing, 5-1, at one point. The Sox spoiled things by falling 6-4, 8-4, and 5-3 to their American League Central Division rivals.
It’s time for the Sox to see the National League in the start of interleague play. The Sox will play the Cubs in three games at Wrigley Field Friday through Sunday, then go to Pittsburgh for two games May 15-16.