April 5 (Game 9): Finally, the Home Opener!

Mariners (5-1) @ White Sox (4-4)

Yusei Kikuchi v Reynaldo Lopez

Moncada's bases-loaded single in the 7th leads the White Sox to a home win.

Stream it!: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2019/04/05

The AL-leading White Sox offense powered through a very shaky pitching performance to defeat the Mariners in an exciting home opener. The Chicago lineup broke out early against Yusei Kikuchi, dropping 6 runs on Seattle in the first two innings. Seattle pulled ahead 8-6 in the 6th, after Reynaldo Lopez and Jace Fry each gave up a two-run homer. In the 7th, the Sox loaded the bases against Cory Gearrin, who then hit Welington Castillo with a pitch to make it 8-7. Zac Rosscup entered the game for Seattle, but Yoan Moncada beat him with a single to center that scored 2 to give the White Sox the lead.

On the pitching side of things, Lopez started for the 3rd time in 9 games, and it wasn't pretty. After striking out the first 2 Mariners hitters, everything went downhill quickly. Domingo Santana's first inning blast was the first of 3 home runs that Lopez would surrender in a really ugly start. His final line of 5 IP, 3 HR, 6 ER, 4 BB, 5 K leaves him with a season ERA of 6.60, a 15% BB rate, and a rate of 2.4 HR surrendered per 9 innings. (That's not good...at all.)

Final Score: Mariners 8, White Sox 10

Highlights: https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mariners-vs-white-sox/2019/04/05/567263#,game_tab=videos,game_state=final,game=567263

Game Notes:

• WhiteSox MVP: Moncada. 2-4, 4 RBI. He now leads the team in RBI with 12 in the first 9 games. 
• Maybe Ricky Should Be Using You Less Often (LVP): Lopez. The talent is there, the performance just isn't. 

Updated Standings:

AL East	W	L	%		GB		RS	RA	+/-
Tampa Bay	5	3	0.625				27	22	5
New York Yankees	4	3	0.571		0.5		32	20	12
Baltimore	4	4	0.500		1		29	36	-7
Toronto	3	6	0.333		2.5		26	30	-4
Boston	2	6	0.250		3		42	62	-20
AL Central	W	L	%		GB		RS	RA	+/-
Detroit	4	2	0.667				15	11	4
Chicago White Sox	5	4	0.556		0.5		56	46	10
Minnesota	4	4	0.500		1		36	32	4
Cleveland	4	5	0.444		1.5		25	30	-5
Kansas City	2	4	0.333		2		30	42	-12
AL West	W	L	%		GB		RS	RA	+/-
Oakland	7	2	0.778				37	20	17
Seattle	5	2	0.714		1		45	41	4
Houston	6	3	0.667		1		25	18	7
Texas	3	6	0.333		4		33	46	-13
Los Angeles Angels	2	6	0.250		4.5		17	31	-14
NL East	W	L	%		GB		RS	RA	+/-
New York Mets	6	1	0.857				44	27	17
Philadelphia	4	3	0.571		2		48	36	12
Atlanta	5	4	0.556		2		45	41	4
Washington	3	3	0.500		2.5		32	34	-2
Miami	2	6	0.250		4.5		27	41	-14
NL Central	W	L	%		GB		RS	RA	+/-
Milwaukee	7	2	0.778				38	38	0
St. Louis	4	5	0.444		3		42	41	1
Pittsburgh	3	4	0.429		3		27	27	0
Cincinnati	2	4	0.333		3.5		9	15	-6
Chicago Cubs	2	6	0.250		4.5		50	55	-5
NL West	W	L	%		GB		RS	RA	+/-
Los Angeles Dodgers	5	4	0.556				62	42	20
Arizona	5	4	0.556				62	62	0
San Francisco	4	4	0.500		0.5		24	20	4
San Diego	4	5	0.444		1		26	32	-6
Colorado	4	5	0.444		1		31	44	-13