Hocus-focus: Lopez regains magic
Admitting his concentration was an issue in his previous four starts in which he had struggled with an 8.72 ERA and 0-4 record, Reynaldo Lopez looked locked in Thursday.
He pitched seven-plus innings of two-run ball in the White Sox’ 6-4 victory against the Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Lopez exited in the eighth inning leading 2-0 with two runners on, a lead that disappeared on Whit Merrifield’s three-run pinch home run with two outs against lefthander Xavier Cedeno, the third Sox reliever of the inning.
Jose Abreu’s homer in the bottom of the inning against Jason Adam tied it, and Daniel Palka’s three-run pinch homer against Jason Hammel put the Sox in front 6-3.
Lopez, who received a nodecision, allowed five hits and two walks and struck out four, helping the Sox (38-70) avoid a series sweep against the Royals (34-74).
“I’ve said it before — focus is the thing that will keep you in the game,’’ Lopez said. “Focus is the key to success. Today, the focus was throwing the first pitch for a strike and commanding the zone.’’
“Right from the beginning, straight out of the bullpen, you could see right out of the shoot he was hitting 96 [mph], 97, working 93, 94 with a good changeup,’’ manager Rick Renteria said. “Attacking the strike zone.’’
Lopez said he told himself to block out the outside noise and “just think about the game, the pitches you need to execute, and I think that was a key for me today.’’
Omar Narvaez singled Abreu home in the fourth and Tim Anderson doubled in a run in the seventh to notch two runs against right-hander Brad Keller.
Rosell Herrera’s sacrifice fly in the ninth against Luis Avilan, who went home with the dugout scorecard for notching his first