The offense of the Chicago White Sox has come storming out of the gate in Cleveland, putting the team in a position to do something noteworthy Sunday afternoon.
Chicago exploded for 14 runs in the first four innings of their 15-10 slugfest with the Indians in the opener. On Saturday, five runs in the first two frames set the tone for an 8-3 victory. John Danks is scheduled to start Sunday's game with an opportunity to lead the White Sox to a series sweep of Cleveland.
The last time the White Sox pulled off a sweep to open the season? Not in Ozzie Guillen's tenure.
Not in Jerry Manuel's, either.
No, Terry Bevington never did it, either.
You have to go back to 1992, when Gene Lamont's White Sox swept the Angels out on the West Coast, to find the last time Chicago was able to open the season 3-0. In fact, the White Sox led off 1991 behind Jeff Torborg with two-game sweeps of Baltimore and Detroit.
There are 160 games to go, but 19 years between 3-0 starts is something to get excited about.
The White Sox have hit early and often in the first two games in 2011. Alex Rios is the only regular yet to collect a hit. New acquisition Adam Dunn homered in the opener. Rookie third basemen Brent Morel has hit in both games. Carlos Quentin has seven RBI in the two wins.
So far, Cleveland rocks...for the bats of the Sox.
Both Mark Buehrle, though he ran of of gas in the sixth on Friday, and Edwin Jackson has solid opening starts. We haven't seen Matt Thornton yet, but so far that is a good thing considering the White Sox haven't trailed yet this season.
Danks remains the starter Sunday despite some dental work on an old root canal that had started to become infected. Danks led all White Sox starters with a 3.04 ERA this spring.
It's easy to feel good about two wins two days into the season. Obviously we aren't fixing to go on a 162-0 run, but quick starts in cold weather are hard to come by for the White Sox. Going into Kansas City with a 3-0 record and sitting on top of the AL Central would be fine with me.
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