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(Thanks to slydernelson for pinch-hitting with this recap.)
In his first start of the year, Jeremy Guthrie snapped Chicago’s two-game winning streak back on April 4. In that outing Guthrie stymied the Sox over six innings, allowing only one run and striking out nine in a 3-1 win.
With the Sox coming off back to back wins against Texas, Guthrie once again pitched magnificently against the Sox by throwing his first career shutout in a 2-0 win.
The Royals scored both runs in the first inning off Sox starter Dylan Axelrod. With two outs, Axelrod threw a high fastball that tailed a bit inside, plunking Billy Butler on the elbow. Eric Hosmer followed up with a single to left.
With runners on first and second, Lorenzo Cain took a 2-2 slider down the right field line. Alex Rios in a do-or-die situation fell short on his dive to catch the liner, resulting in a two-run triple.
Axelrod picked up his second loss of the season and is still winless. After a shaky first inning, Axelrod went toe-to-toe with Guthrie going a career-high 7⅔ innings on 113 pitches.
In the third inning, he stranded a leadoff triple by Hosmer by getting Cain and Mike Moustakas to fly out in shallow right field. After walking Jeff Francoeur on four straight pitches, he escaped the inning getting Salvador Perez to fly out.
Even in defeat, it was a good outing for Axelrod and a welcome sight for the Sox in the wake of Gavin Floyd’s elbow injury.
The same can't be said for the White Sox offense, which continued to strruggle. Their best chance at damage against Guthrie came in the fourth inning.
After getting Jeff Keppinger and Alex Rios to fly out to Alcides Escobar, Guthrie walked Adam Dunn. On a 1-0 fastball Paul Konerko delivered a double in right center. With Dunn rounding third base coach Joe McEwing put up the stop sign after Chris Getz received the cut off throw. With runners on second and third, Conor Gillaspie struck out on a 2-2 slider ending the threat.
Record: 12-16 | Box score | Play-by-play | Highlights