Blue Jays look to keep solving woes vs. White Sox (Apr 03, 2018)
TORONTO -- The Chicago White Sox have had the Toronto Blue Jays' number in recent seasons.
The White Sox were 5-0-1 in season series between the teams over the past six seasons, going 27-16 during that span, including a 14-7 record at the Rogers Centre.
The Blue Jays made a start at reversing the trend Monday night with a comeback 4-2 victory over the White Sox in the opener of a three-game series at the Rogers Centre and will attempt to do it again on Tuesday in the middle game of a three-game series.
The Blue Jays did it with solo home runs from Josh Donaldson and Aledmys Diaz and a two-run, go-ahead shot from Russell Martin in the seventh inning against reliever Danny Farquhar.
It was the first home run for each Blue Jay. White Sox catcher Welington Castillo hit two solo home runs, his first two of the season. It was his sixth career multi-homer game, the past three against the Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays (3-2) have won three games in a row, all after falling behind, while the White Sox (2-1) lost for the first time this season.
"I think it's a combination of our pitching and our defense," Martin said. "Pitching is really keeping us in ball games. Our starters and our bullpen have been awesome, and we've been making plays behind them, too, so that definitely helps. When your bullpen is keeping you in the game and is not allowing any runs, it allows you to make a comeback and that's what we've been doing."
Martin also had five assists in the game, which matched a club record for a catcher.
Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez will start for the White Sox against Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ.
This will be the first start of the season for Gonzalez, who was 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA in four spring training starts.
Gonzalez was 8-13 with a 4.62 ERA in 27 starts between the White Sox and the Texas Rangers last season.
He has made 15 appearances (14 starts) in his career against the Blue Jays, going 7-4 with a 3.63 ERA. He is 3-2 with a 3.42 ERA in nine career outings (eight starts) at the Rogers Centre.
Happ (0-1, 3.86 ERA) was 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA in two starts against the White Sox in 2017. In five career starts against them, he is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA.
He was the Blue Jays' Opening Day starter Thursday, allowing four hits, three runs (two earned) and one walk while striking out five in taking the loss to the New York Yankees.
There was a bit of by-play between Donaldson and White Sox first base coach Daryl Boston during the game.
Boston has a whistle that he uses when the White Sox make a good defensive play. After Donaldson crossed home plate on his home run in the sixth inning, he pretended to blow a whistle.
"He got us on that one," Boston said. "I was informed he was not particularly thrilled about the whistle and he showed me that he was not. I had hit the whistle a couple of times hard before he went to the plate and he responded. You can pin that homer on me. It was all in fun. Kansas City gives me a hard time about it. They don't like it."
"I think what had me do it was as soon as I stepped into the box, he started to blow it before anything had happened," Donaldson said, "So I thought I would return the favor."
Donaldson has homered in each of his past four games against the White Sox.
Donaldson has been used as designated hitter as his right shoulder recovers from a "dead" period. His throws were weak on Opening Day when he played third base. He has been used at DH for the past four games, but he said the arm is progressing. With Donaldson at DH, it means regular designated hitter Kendrys Morales is limited to spot duty at first base or pinch hitter.
Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis, who is coming back from knee surgery, will be given a scheduled day off on Tuesday.
