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 Center fielder Lorenzo Cain performed magic with his glove and
produced with his bat and right-hander Edinson Volquez pitched a gem
in his Kansas City debut as the Royals defeated the Chicago White
Sox 4-1 on Thursday.
"If somebody would say, 'Boy, you are really firing on all
cylinders,' I would have to agree," Royals manager Ned Yost said.
Cain, who hit a game-winning homer in the eighth inning on
Wednesday, made two breathtaking catches in center field on Thursday
and also drove in a run, doubled and scored.
Volquez, who had a 6.33 ERA in five spring-training outings, held
the White Sox to one run and four hits, striking out five and
walking one in eight innings. Greg Holland worked a spotless ninth
for his second save within 18 hours.
The Royals did something they had never done: Beat White Sox
left-hander John Danks. In Danks' first 16 starts against the
Royals, he was 7-0 with a 2.43 ERA.
Danks was removed after catcher Salvador Perez belted a two-run
homer in a three-run sixth inning. Cain started the inning with a
double and scored on designated hitter Kendrys Morales' double.
The Royals, who ranked last in the majors with 95 home runs last
season, hit five home runs in sweeping the White Sox.
"This is different than they've been the last couple of years, the
power they're showing," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "They
definitely hit some homers that they haven't been known for really
in the past."
Shortstop Alexei Ramirez's two-out RBI single in the seventh
produced the only White Sox run.
The White Sox are 0-3 for the first time since 2004. They have lost
14 of 17 to the Royals while being outscored 90-44.
"That's what they are known for: playing small ball, bunting guys
over, playing great defense," White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton
said. "They play the game hard. They're stealing bags. Lorenzo
Cain's making plays. Perez is throwing guys out. They're a solid
team.
"That being said, it's a long season. Who (cares) about the first
three games? I want to be playing hot in September. Who really cares
about April? We'll get going. We're not worried about it."
The Royals manufactured a run in the first inning. Shortstop Alcides
Escobar led off with a double to right field to extend his hitting
streak to 12 games.
Third baseman Mike Moustakas moved Escobar to third with a sacrifice
bunt and Escobar scored on Cain's groundout to shortstop Alexei
Ramirez.
Cain made a spectacular catch to rob designated hitter Adam LaRoche
of extra bases in the second. Cain ran down LaRoche's scorcher at
the right-center warning track before crashing into the wall.
"I run into walls all the time," Cain said.
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Teammate Alex Gordon overheard Cain's comment and said, "Shocker,"
drawing laughs from all around.
In the third, Cain made another five-star catch, drifting back and
colliding with the center-field wall to track down Micah Johnson's
fly ball.
Right-hander Edinson Volquez, making his Royals debut after signing
a two-year contract in December, faced only one batter above the
minimum in the first five innings. He retired nine straight before
first baseman Jose Abreu's two-out double in the fourth.
Volquez, who was aided by superb defense, required only 46 pitches
in the first five innings.
The Royals wasted opportunities to pad their lead in the third and
fourth. After left fielder Paulo Orlando walked and second baseman
Omar Infante singled for his first hit of the season, they had
runners at second and third with one out in the third but failed to
score.
Orlando tripled to open the fifth for his first big-league hit but
was stranded.
"That's what speed do," Orlando said of his triple, stealing a line
from teammate Jarrod Dyson.
The inning ended when Eaton laid out to grab Moustakas' liner.
NOTES: Orlando made his big-league debut, becoming the third
Brazilian-born player to play in the majors. ... RHP Hector Noesi
will start the White Sox home opener Friday against the Twins. ...
LHP Jason Vargas will start the Royals' first away game, on Friday
at Anaheim. Vargas is 9-3 with a 2.86 ERA at Angel Stadium. ... The
White Sox play their first 18 games and 25 of their first 28 against
AL Central clubs. ... The Royals have 10 foreign players on their
roster.
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