The wheels fell off for starter Iván Nova and the Chicago White Sox early on in Baltimore as the Orioles ran away with this one, winning 9-1. The Orioles used the long ball, and they used it often.
In the first, Nova pitched around a leadoff double and a walk to escape unscathed. Unfortunately, that was as good as the White Sox’s situation would get.
Chris Davis (yeah, that guy who had that streak) got the Orioles in the board with a single in the bottom of the second, sure-gloved Adam Engel making an error in center field to allow the runner to score. That was all the second inning damage done by the Orioles, but it was far from the last. In the third, Renato Núñez hit a solo homer to double Baltimore’s lead. Davis (yes, him again) doubled Baltimore’s lead again with a two-run shot, pushing the score to 4-0.
The game got completely out of hand in the fourth, when Orioles outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. hit a three-run shot to make it 7-0. Joey Rickard poured it on later in the inning with a two-run homer, the fourth and final homer Nova allowed. Nova’s final line: 4 IP, 9 R (9 ER), 11 H, 3 BB, 4 K. On to the next one. Nova agrees:
Ivan Nova postgame last night. (4 IP, 11 hits, 9 runs, 3 BB, 4 K, 4 HR) pic.twitter.com/zUxT107HFz
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) April 24, 2019
The offense was not exactly on top of its game, either. After managing next to nothing against O’s starter Andrew Cashner in the first five innings, Yoán Moncada tripled and Tim Anderson drove him in with a single to open the sixth.
Here. Take a look at a highlight:
That was the only time the White Sox scored all evening, as they finished with just six hits. Moncada’s triple was Chicago’s only extra-base hit, and the only walk was drawn by José Abreu.
One of the few positives about this game was the bullpen’s performance. After Nova departed, the Orioles managed exactly zero hits, as Carson Fulmer, Josh Osich, Alex Colomé, and Kelvin Herrera combined for five excellent innings. Only three Orioles reached base against the bullpen (a walk and HBP by Fulmer and a walk by Herrera).
The loss drops the White Sox record to 9-13. The South Siders will look to take the rubber match tomorrow at 6:05 CST, as Ervin Santana gets the start. Ali White has our game coverage, and the good news here is that the last time she was on the call, Eloy Jiménez split the sky with two thunderous homers to pace a White Sox win in the Bronx. The game will be televised on NBC Sports Chicago, and audio will be available on WGN 720.