AJ Pollock Archives - Chris Ricchetti

Week of April 11-17, 2022

April 12—Lucas Giolito (RHP) placed on 10-day injured list (abdominal strain), retroactive to April 9

April 12—AJ Pollock (OF) placed on 10-day injured list (strained right hamstring), retroactive to April 10

Three-Game Series vs. Seattle Mariners

Sox win series 2-1 | Season vs. Mariners 2-1

GAME 4

Vince Velasquez RHP 23 — MLB Advanced Media, LP Velasquez

Matt Brash RHP 47 — MLB Advanced Media, LP Velasquez

Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 3:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field – White Sox Home Opener
Vince Velasquez, RHP vs.
Mariners / Matt Brash, RHP

W, 2-3, 3-1 (.750), W3 | W: Reynaldo López (1-0, 3.38) | S: Hendriks (1)

DEFENSE: In his White Sox debut, starter Vince Velasquez gives up 1 R/ER on 2 H (3 BB, 2 SO) on 4.0 IP. In the 5^th, Bennett Sousa throws LO, 1B and would have retired the side, but for Leury Garcia‘s substandard fielding on what should have been a routine 6-4-3 DP. Instead, Bennett gives up 2B on a wild pitch and issues a BB. Reynaldo López takes over with 2 outs and 2 on, striking out the next batter to end the 5^th, then throws a 1-2-3 (1 SO) 6^th, then a near-miss FO in the 7^th that would have been a HR, but for the incoming wind. Aaron Bummer finishes out the 7^th with 2 BB and 2 SO. Kendall Graveman throws GO, 2B, GO, SO in the 8^th. Liam Hendriks gets his first save of the season, but it isn’t pretty. In the 9^th, Hendriks throws K, 1B, K, 1B, RBI 1B, K. OFFENSE: Tim Anderson RBI FC scores Josh Harrison (walked, advanced to 3B on Reese McGuire 1B) in the 3^rd. Luis Robert solo HR (1) in the 6^th. Eloy Jiménez RBI FC scores Luis Robert (walked, stole 2B, stole 3B) in the 8^th. NOTABLE: The White Sox signed veteran righty Vince Velasquez on March 14. Starting for the Mariners in his major league debut, Matt Brash (23) logs his first and second career strikeouts (both Ks) vs. Luis Robert and José Abreu in a 1-2-3 1^st.

Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

GAME 5

Robbie Ray LHP 38 — MLB Advanced Media, LP Keuchel

Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 6:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs.
Mariners / Robbie Ray, LHP^*

W, 4-6, 4-1 (.800), W4 | W: Dallas Keuchel (1-0, 5.40) | S: Hendriks (2)

^*2021 AL Cy Young Award winner

➤ Possible injury: Josh Harrison exits with lower back stiffness, after 7

DEFENSE: On a soggy night in Chicago, Dallas Keuchel gives up a HR on his sixth pitch, but ends up with a decent outing, giving up 3 R/ER on 6 H (0 BB, 6 SO) in 5.0 IP. With the help of a perfectly-timed jump catch at the wall by Adam Engel that robs Jesse Winker of a game-tying HR, Kyle Crick walks 1 and retires 3 (1 SO) in the 6^th. José Ruiz (2 SO) and Kendall Graveman (2 SO) pitch clean innings in the 7^th and 8^th. Liam Hendriks gets his second save of the season but, again, it’s not pretty. In the 9^th, Hendriks throws 2B, K (runner advances to 3B on passed ball by Yasmani Grandal), RBI 1B, SO, GO. OFFENSE: Eloy Jiménez solo HR (1) in the 2^nd. Also in the 2^nd: Jake Burger RBI 1B scores Andrew Vaughn (singled, advanced to 2B on WP, advanced to 3B on Josh Harrison FC) and Tim Anderson 2-RBI 2B scores Harrison and Burger. Tim Anderson (1) and Luis Robert (2) launch back-to-back solo HRs in the 7^th—in heavy rain.

Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

GAME 6

Jimmy Lambert RHP 13 - Portrait — MLB Advanced Media, LP Lambert

Logan Gilbert RHP 36 - Portrait — MLB Advanced Media, LP Lambert

Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 1:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Jimmy Lambert, RHP vs.
Mariners / Logan Gilbert, RHP

L, 5-1, 4-2 (.667), L1 | L: Jimmy Lambert (0-1, 6.00)

DEFENSE: Despite losing the game, starter Jimmy Lambert‘s performance isn’t terrible. He gives up 2 R/ER on 2 H (1 BB, 1 SO) in 3.0 IP. Tanner Banks pitches a scoreless 4^th and 5^th (1 BB, 0 SO). Matt Foster holds the line through the 6^th and first out of the 7^th (1 H, 0 BB, 2 SO). Bennett Sousa completes the 7^th, giving up 2 R/ER on 1 H (1 BB, 0 SO). José Ruiz pitches the first ⅔ of the 8^th, giving up 1 R/ER on 3 H (1 BB, 2 SO). And making his MLB debut, hard-throwing, Dominican lefty Anderson Severino (27) finishes out the game without incident (0 H, 1 BB, 3 SO). Severino takes the mound in the 8^th with bases loaded and strikes out the first batter of his career (Adam Frazier, top of the lineup) on a 3-2 count to end the inning. Sensational! OFFENSE: On a blustery day in Chicago (29 MPH at first pitch), gusts of wind save the White Sox from three routine pop outs in the 5^th, leading to their only (unearned) run of the game. The first two wind gusts benefit Adam Engel who ends up at 2B after his first pop fly blows foul and the wind renders his second fly ball uncatchable (scored as E2). Then Jake Burger reaches 1B on a pop fly, scoring Engel as the wind outsmarts Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (scored as RBI 1B). Starter Logan Gilbert and the Mariners bullpen keep the White Sox bats in check, allowing just 4 H and 0 ER over 9.0 innings (1 BB, 9 SO). NOTABLE: The White Sox signed free agent Anderson Severino to a minor league contract in November 2020. He had been bouncing around the Yankees Organization since 2013.

Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

Three-Game Series vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Sox win series 2-1 | Season vs. Ray 2-1

2022 Jackie Robinson Day — MLB Advanced Media, LP Jackie Robinson Day – 75th Anniversary – April 15, 1947

GAME 7

Dylan Cease RHP 84 — MLB Advanced Media, LP Cease

Drew Rasmussen RHP 57 — MLB Advanced Media, LP Cease

Friday, April 15, 2022 at 6:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field – Jackie Robinson Day – 75 Years
Dylan Cease, RHP vs.
Rays / Drew Rasmussen, RHP

W, 2-3, 5-2 (.714), W2 | W: Dylan Cease (2-0, 1.69) | S: Hendriks (3)

DEFENSE: Dylan Cease turns in a respectable 5 ⅔ IP for his second win in as many starts. He gives up 1 R/ER on 3 H (2 BB, 8 SO). Cease exits in the 6^th after walking 1 and striking out 2 (score is 0-3 Sox). Enter Aaron Bummer with 2 outs and a runner on 1B. Bummer gives up an RBI 2B that scores the inherited runner, followed by another RBI 2B that scores the previous batter. A LO ends the 6^th. It’s 2-3 Sox. Bummer returns in the 7^th to make a better showing—allowing a 1B, then retiring the next three. Kendall Graveman pitches a 1-2-3 (2 SO) 8^th. Closer Liam Hendriks is more himself today and doesn’t make things complicated—1-2-3 for the save. OFFENSE: Gavin Sheets (hit ground-rule 2B, advanced to 3B on Leury Garcia GO) scores on a Drew Rasmussen WP in the 2^nd. Jake Burger solo HR (1) off his first-ever pitch from Drew Rasmussen (his second career HR) in the 3^rd. Jake Burger 1B scores Leury Garcia (doubled, advanced to 3B on Andrew Vaughn GO) in the 5^th. NOTABLE: Tim Anderson tallies his first SB of the season in the 1^st. Leury Garcia‘s 2B in the 5^th breaks an 0-18 slump, and man is he happy!

Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

GAME 8

Michael Kopech RHP 34 - Portrait — MLB Advanced Media, LP Kopech

Corey Kluber RHP 28 — MLB Advanced Media, LP Kopech

Saturday, April 16, 2022 at 1:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Michael Kopech, RHP vs.
Rays / Corey Kluber, RHP

W, 2-3, 6-2 (7.50), W3 | W: Reynaldo López (2-0, 4.91) | S: Liam Hendriks (4)

DEFENSE: Starter Michael Kopech pitched well against a tough lineup, and got better as he went along—a hopeful sign?! He gives up 1 R (0 ER) on 1 H (2 BB, 5 SO) on 5.0 IP (a Josh Harrison E5 in the 1^st allows Brandon Lowe to advance to 3B, rendering the subsequent run unearned). Reynaldo López throws 2B, SO, LO, BB, RBI 1B/PO) in the 6^th. López is properly charged with 1 ER, but ends up as the technical game winner. José Ruiz (3 K) and Bennett Sousa (2 K) pitch a 1-2-3 inning each in the 7^th and 8^th. In an “exciting” (?) finish, closer Liam Hendriks goes 1B (advances to 2B on WP), FC (out at 3B), FO, 1B (steals 2B), IW, K, for the save. Okay, fine. OFFENSE: José Abreu 2-run HR (1) scores Tim Anderson (singled, advanced to 2B on a pickoff E1) in the 4^th. Abreu is .340 lifetime vs. Corey Kluber. Yasmani Grandal 1B scores Luis Robert (reached on E6, stole 2B, advanced to 3B on José Abreu FO) in the 6^th. NOTABLE: Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena ejected by HP umpire Junior Valentine for tossing the bat straight up in the air after he is called out looking in the 6^th.

Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

2022-04-16 Sox v Rays at Guaranteed Rate Field — Noah Ricchetti
April 16, 2022 – Sox v Rays at Guaranteed Rate Field

GAME 9

J.P. Feyereisen RHP 34 — MLB Advanced Media, LP Velasquez

Sunday, April 17, 2022 at 1:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Vince Velasquez, RHP vs.
Rays / J.P. Feyereisen, RHP

L, 3-9, 6-3 (.667), L1 | L: Vince Velasquez (0-1, 4.15)

DEFENSE: Starter Vince Velasquez gets off to a rocky start, giving up 4 R/3 ER on 3 H (3 BB, 2 K) in the 1^st, then pitches 3 scoreless innings. He exits with 2 outs in the 5^th after allowing a 1B. Velasquez posts 5 H and 5 SO on 4 ⅔ IP (no additional R or BB after the 1^st). Tanner Banks retires the side with a K, then throws 2B, K, GO, FO in the 6^th. Matt Foster walks 1 and retires 3 (0 SO) in the 7^th. He exists in the 8^th after throwing GO, BB. Anderson Severino takes the mound with 1 on. After 3 unsuccessful pickoff attempts, the inherited runner advances to 2B on a wild first pitch. Severino’s second pitch hits Kevin Kiermaier, then he gives up 3B and 2B after making a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. Next, he allows a 2-RBI 1B that scores the inherited runner and the HBP, followed by GO, RBI 2B, WP gives up 3B, RBI 2B, PB gives up 3B, K, making it 8-2 Rays. Ouch! Kyle Crick goes GO, 1B, 1B, RBI 1B, L1-3 DP in the 9^th. OFFENSE: Gavin Sheets RBI HBP scores José Abreu (singled, advanced to 2B on Yasmani Grandal BB, advanced to 3B on Eloy Jiménez BB) in the 4^th. White Sox again load the bases in the 5^th (Adam Engel 1B SB(2) WP, Tim Anderson BB SB(2), José Abreu BB), but Engel scores the only run on a PB. Gavin Sheets solo HR (1) in the 9^th. NOTABLE: Rays lineup have sharp eyes today, taking a bunch of close changeups. This is the first game of the season in which the Sox allow 5 runs.

Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

(Short) Week of April 7-10, 2022

Photo credit: Getty Images

April 7—Seby Zavala (c) outrighted to Charlotte Knights. He will be missed!

Opening Day – April 7, 2022

➤ White Sox off

➤ Chicago Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, RHP throws first pitch of the season against Milwaukee Brewers at 1:20 pm CDT at Wrigley Field

➤ Cleveland Guardians defeated by Kansas City Royals at Kaufmann Stadium by a score of 1-3. Starter Shane Bieber, healthy as a horse, gives up 1 R/ER on 3 H (0 BB, 0 K) on 4 ⅔ IP. | WP: Scott Barlow | LP: Triston McKenzie

Three-Game Series at Detroit Tigers

Sox win series 2-1 | Season vs. Tigers 2-1

Game 1

Eduardo Rodriguez LHP #57 — MLB Advanced Media, LP Giolito

Friday, April 8 at 12:10 pm CDT
Comerica Park – Tigers Home Opener
Lucas Giolito, RHP at
Tigers / Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP

L, 4-5, 0-1 (.000), L1 | LP: Liam Hendriks (0-1, 18.00, 2) | BS: Liam Hendriks (1)

➤ Possible injury: Lucas Giolito exits with abdominal tightness, after 4

DEFENSE: Starter Lucas Giolito leaves after 4.0 IP with the Sox up 3-0 (2 BB, 6 SO). In his major league debut, Bennett Sousa LHP pitches a 1-2-3 (0 SO) 5^th. In his first game with the White Sox, Kyle Click RHP goes HBP, BB, FO, exiting with 2 on the 6^th (⅓ IP). In his first game with the White Sox, Kendall Graveman RHP allows a base hit that scores Click‘s HBP runner, then ends the 6^th with a 6-4-3 DP. Graveman throws a 1-2-3 (1 SO) 7^th. Aaron Bummer goes SO, 1B, BB, 1B, SO in the 8^th to load the bases (⅔ IP). Closer Liam Hendriks steps in, allowing a 1B that scores 2 of 3 inherited ERs, leaving runners on the corners. Next, he throws a HBP for good measure to load the bases again and, finally, ends the 8^th with a force out at 3B. Hendriks returns in the 9^th with the Sox up 4-3, but blows the save, giving up a HR to Eric Haase, and the walk-off RBI 1B to Javier Báez (line drive to AJ Pollock at 9 hits wall, Pollock plays it off as a catch, convincing the umps, Tigers challenge, call is overturned, Austin Meadows scores from 3B). OFFENSE: Batting at the top of the order, the newly-acquired AJ Pollock goes 3-for-5, tallying his first RBI (1B scores Jake Berger from 2B) and scoring his first run (on a Luis Robert 2B) for the White Sox in the 2^nd. With the game tied at 3, Andrew Vaughn smashes a go-ahead HR (1) in the 9^th. NOTABLE: The White Sox picked Bennett Sousa in the 10^th round of the 2018 draft (#288 overall). Sousa participated in spring training in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The White Sox signed free agent Kyle Click to a minor league contract in July 2021, then signed him to a big-league contract yesterday. Click was drafted by the Giants in 2011, debuted in 2017, and traded to the Pirates in January 2018. The White Sox signed Kendall Graveman after last season. In his first game with the White Sox, veteran infielder Josh Harrison goes 0-for-4, playing 2B and batting 7^th in the lineup. The White Sox signed Harrison as a free agent on March 15.

Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

Lucas Giolito to Miss Starts

Lucas Giolito RHP 27 — MLB Advanced Media, LP

April 9—Manager Tony La Russa says that Lucas Giolito will be placed on the IL shortly and will miss at least two starts. Righty Vince Velasquez will step into the starting rotation, and will pitch in the home opener on Tuesday.

Game 2

Casey Mize RHP 12 - Portrait — MLB Advanced Media, LP Cease

Saturday, April 9 at 12:10 pm CDT
Comerica Park
Dylan Cease, RHP at
Tigers / Casey Mize, RHP

W, 5-2, 1-1 (.500), W1 | WP: Dylan Cease (1-0, 1.80, 8) | SV: Aaron Bummer (1)

➤ Possible injury: AJ Pollock exits with hamstring tightness, in the 3^rd. Pollock was already scheduled to go on paternity leave next week for the birth of his second child.

DEFENSE: Sporting a new stache, Dylan Cease gives up 1 R/ER on 2 H (3 BB, 8 SO) in 5.0 + 1 IP. After striking out four in a row in the 3^rdand 4^th, Cease issues 2 BB in the 5^th, but fights his way out of the jam with K and LO, for the last two outs. Cease faces 1 batter in the 6^th, allowing a 1B. Reynaldo López takes over with a man on, giving up 2 H and 1 BB, right out of the gate, then makes a stellar play at home for the first out. A 6-4-3 DP gets him out of the inning with Cease‘s ER scored and 1 ER of his own. Bennett Sousa replaces López after he BBs the first batter in the 7^th. Sousa quickly retires the side with DP, FO, and returns in the 8^th to SO the first batter (Austin Meadows) for his first career strikeout. José Ruiz finishes the inning with 1B, 4-6-3 DP. Aaron Bummer takes the mound in the 9^th: 1B, 1B, K, K, K, for the save. OFFENSE: Eloy Jiménez 2-RBI 1B scores Luis Robert (singled) and José Abreu (doubled) in the 1^st. Yasmani Grandal 2-run HR (1) scores José Abreu (singled) in the 6^th. Andrew Vaughn RBI single scores Josh Harrison (doubled, advanced to 3B on Jake Berger sac bunt) in the 7^th. NOTABLE: Josh Harrison gets his first hit—a lead-off 3B—for the White Sox in the 5^th. Dylan Cease is 9-0 career against the Tigers.

Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

AJ Pollock possible injury:

Game 3

Tarik Skubal LHP 29 - Portrait — MLB Advanced Media, LP Kopech

Sunday, April 10 at 12:10 pm CDT
Comerica Park
Michael Kopech, RHP at
Tigers / Tarik Skubal, LHP

W, 10-1, 2-1 (.667), W2 | WP: Kyle Crick (1-0, 6.75, 1)

DEFENSE: Looking to establish himself in the rotation this year, Michael Kopech gives up 1 R/ER on 2 H (2 BB, 3 SO) on 4.0 IP. He retires 7 in a row to end the outing. In the 2^nd, new catcher, Reese McGuire fires one to 2B to catch Austin Meadows stealing. Kyle Crick (1 SO), Matt Foster and Kendall Graveman contribute a clean inning each in the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th. And in his major league debut, lefty Tanner Banks faces 8 Tigers in the 8^th and 9^th, retiring 6 (4 SO) and walking 2—nice! OFFENSE: Fresh off his two-day suspension and back in the lead-off position, Tim Anderson knocks a 2B off his first pitch of the season. Luis Robert gets a base hit and steals 2B, giving the Sox 2 RISP after 6 pitches. José Abreu RBI 1B scores TA. Eloy Jiménez sac fly scores Robert. Sox are 3-for-3 on the season scoring in the 1^st. José Abreu RBI 2B scores Luis Robert (grounded into a force out) and Josh Harrison RBI 1B scores Abreu in the 3^rd. Danny Mendick RBI 2B to deep left scores Reese McGuire (reached on an error) in the 4^th. Eloy Jiménez RBI 1B scores Tim Anderson (doubled) and Andrew Vaughn 3-run HR brings home José Abreu (walked) and Jiménez in the 7^th. Andrew Vaughn RBI 1B scores José Abreu (singled, advanced to 2B on Eloy Jiménez GO) in the 9^th. NOTABLE: The White Sox picked Tanner Banks in the 18^th round of the 2014 draft (#528 overall). He must be thrilled/relieved to have made it to The Show at last!

Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

Pollock for Kimbrel

Photo credit: Will Newton

AJ Pollock OF 18 — MLB Advanced Media, LP

April 1—The White Sox have acquired veteran outfielder AJ Pollock from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for reliever Craig Kimbrel—a deal that will disappoint no one in Chicago! Pollock debuted with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012, where he remained for seven seasons. He signed with the Dodgers as a free agent prior to the start of the 2019 season. Last season with the Dodgers, Pollock went 114-for-384, batting .297/.355/.536 with 69 RBI, 53 RS, 9 SB and 21 HR in 117 G. We’ll take it!