Lopez dominates Rangers for 1st win of 2018

Lopez dominates Rangers for 1st win of 2018

May 20th, 2018

CHICAGO -- After his first rough outing last week in Pittsburgh, in which he gave up a season-high six runs in two innings, bounced back in a big way Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Lopez blanked the visiting Rangers for a career-high eight innings, allowing a season-low two hits and two walks while striking out eight, helping the White Sox take the series finale, 3-0. Lopez earned his first win of 2018 with his first scoreless outing of the season.
"He's had games that he's worked through jams early, hasn't been as focused or as intense and hasn't ended up recovering," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "The way he went out today, there was a lot of conviction and intensity and focus in his outing today, from pitch 1. I know [pitching coach Don Cooper] talked to him about that quite a bit after his last outing, and I think he took a hold of it and did his job."

Reliever struck out two in the ninth to register his first career save, giving the South Siders their second series win of the season.
Lopez has thrived at home all season, lowering his home ERA to 1.85 with Sunday's outing. After giving up a leadoff double in the third inning, Lopez retired 17 of the next 18 hitters, with only reaching on a error.
The young right-hander said the biggest adjustment he made after his last start in Pittsburgh was with his attitude.
"I was more positive today than I was in my last outing," Lopez said. "I was focused and kept the focus the whole game. I was executing my pitches and I had confidence in all my pitches. I didn't have any doubt when I was on the mound. I was feeling great. I didn't hesitate on any of the pitches I threw."
The White Sox got to Rangers starter Mike Minor early, as clubbed his sixth homer of the year in the second inning and drove in two with a single in the third. Minor finished with nine strikeouts over five innings of three-run ball.

's 10-game hitting streak came to an end against Minor and Texas. The slugger had entered the game with his 10th hit streak of at least 10 games since debuting in 2014, but he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Sunday.
MOMENT THAT MATTERED
Lopez finishes strong: Renteria came out for a mound visit after Lopez walked with two outs in the eighth, and it was unclear whether or not he would remove his starter. But Lopez convinced his manager he could finish the inning.
"I hid the baseball in my glove because I didn't want to leave the game," Lopez said. "One of the things I used to do was leave the ball in my hand when the manager comes out. This time, I hid the ball in my glove because I didn't want him to take the ball. That's one of the [ways] you can express confidence in yourself."
Lopez then struck out on a full count and pumped his fist as he walked to the dugout.

SOUND SMART
Fry has been a boon for the White Sox bullpen since his May 4 promotion. He has faced 27 batters this season and retired 25, allowing two walks. That's 8 1/3 no-hit innings for the left-hander.

HE SAID IT
"Yes, and he did. You need to have conviction when you talk to me if I'm going to leave you in there. You can see. You guys have seen the reaction of other human beings. You know when they're ready to finish something." -- Renteria, on whether he went into his eighth-inning mound visit with an open mind and if Lopez convinced him to stay in the game

UP NEXT
The White Sox begin a four-game home series with the Orioles on Monday at Guaranteed Rate Field at 7:10 p.m. CT. will take the ball for Chicago in his fourth start of the season. The veteran left-hander has largely made spot starts and pitched in relief this season, but he will slot into the rotation following the demotion of . Right-hander will start for Baltimore.