The San Francisco Giants and the Chicago White Sox have their first three games this week in traditional baseball fashion. Opening day was last week and Chicago is going into this with a winning record of .500. Due to the week that they just have prior going 2-2 in just their first four away games. The games considered for this week will be one of the first times they clash for the 2023 baseball season. The season began with the Giants developing a yearning for being one of those championship teams that occurred back in the mid-2010s. The game will have two amazing starts in the respective sports colliding head to head.
Anthony DeSclafani against Michael Kopech will be interesting to see as both starting pitchers (SP) be able to produce for their teams in their own unique way. The Giants are just coming off a series that fans couldn’t wait to watch as the people saw a team with the home run leader New York Yankees’ sixteenth captain Aaron Judge. The new teammate is former Giants pitcher Carlos Rondon as well. The Sox are battling with everything they have especially with their Home Opener being set up for a good feel-good moment with their fans. The fan-favorite Yoan Moncada has put hope back into their fans with a double in the bottom of the second inning. The Giants are currently leading against the Sox from a Home Run from Outfielder (OF) Joc Pederson and a Running Batted In (RBI) with Mike Yaz from Garcia.
New Season Home Opener
The Chicago White Sox are hoping that Kopech can continue to work the plate. Even with the new added-on pitch clock and bigger bases. The team even managed to get one of their former players who played for them during the 2005-2012 seasons. World Series Champion AJ Pierzynski had the opening pitch for the organization. Pierzynski even worked in the booth with them for commentary. Pierzynski has always loved the city of Chicago even before the trade to Texas.
These two teams have battled back and forth as the CWS has now added two more hits in the fourth inning. It did not help that Kopech someone who only played 25 games in the 2022 season and gave 15 HR has now given up 5 home runs in a single game. Kopech has tried to bounce back the 5th inning has been ugly for him as Mike Yastrzemski, David Villar, and Michael Confronto have all hit a home run in the inning.
Now marks the end of Kopech’s time pitching for the Sox in their home opener. He was relieved with two outs and the Giants hitting four home runs in one inning. The pitch count reached 90-plus pitches and then they realized they needed to change up in order to try to form a sort of comeback against the San Fran team. It hurts to see the Sox struggle in the home opener. They have a chance to win Tuesday and Wednesday before running into the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Giants Overcome the Sox in Opener
The San Francisco Giants have now sent in pitch reliever Sean Manaea in to finish the rest of the game. Manaea ended up giving up two runs in the 7th inning. The Giants’ defense has now been able to leverage their speed by turning the shift. Luis Robert Jr. an outfielder for the Sox has now reminded everyone that the game is not over. Robert Jr. looked good after hitting his second HR of the season. All eyes locked in as the Sox fans prayed that there was still a chance for them to be able to make it. A comeback in the ninth inning would give them a Cinderella story for their home opener.
The first step into dominating the series would be elite pitching. It would’ve followed with a prayer but not on the account of the Giants. Bases were loaded as pitch reliever José Ruiz locked eyes with Villar. This led to a Grand Slam bringing the score to 11-3 Giants. Villar managed to hit two HR today against the Sox and now they create nightmares for Sox fans and teammates. Bryce Johnson hits his first HR against the Sox bringing the total to 12-3. The Cinderella story has become a nightmare for the Sox organization.
Written By Semetrius Holmes
Sources:
NBC Sports: Chicago White Sox v. San Francisco Giants April 3, 2023
Youtube TV: Chicago White Sox v. San Francisco Giants April 3, 2023
NBC: Chicago White Sox v. San Francisco Giants April 3, 2023
Top and Featured Image Courtesy of Peter Miller‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Elizabeth Kuhns‘ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
