April 07--KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jeff Samardzija's first start in a White Sox uniform didn't quite live up to the hype that accompanied his arrival to the club for which he grew up cheering, as the Sox stumbled to a 10-1 loss to the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Samardzija, who joined the Sox via trade with the A's in December, allowed five earned runs on six hits over six-plus innings of work. He left the field to Royals' boos stemming from when he hit two batters with pitches, including Lorenzo Cain, who had words with the right-hander.
They were the first runs allowed by Samardzija in three opening day starts. He had pitched 15 scoreless innings in his two openers for the Cubs.
The Royals scored first in the second inning on Salvador Perez's double to drive in Kendrys Morales, who had walked. The Royals might have added another run on the double, but third-base coach Mike Jirschele held up the runner at third.
After Alcides Escobar doubled in the third inning, Cain dropped an RBI single down the right-field line between Avisail Garcia and Jose Abreu to put the Royals ahead 2-0. Cain scored from third on a wild pitch to put the Royals up by three.
Mike Moustakas hit a solo home run in the fifth inning to give the Royals a 4-0 lead.
At the plate
The Sox managed four hits off right-hander Yordano Ventura in his six-plus innings of work before Ventura left the game with a right thumb cramp. Jose Abreu hit a solo home run off Ventura just before he left for the only Sox run in the first seven innings.
Rookie Micah Johnson led off the sixth inning with a single, his first major-league hit, but he was picked off first during the next Sox at-bat.
On the mound
Sox reliever Kyle Drabek gave up a three-run homer in the seventh inning to Alex Rios, the first batter he had faced in a Sox uniform. It gave the Royals a 9-1 lead.
In the field
After Samardzija left the game, Alex Gordon hit a two-run single in the seventh inning off reliever Dan Jennings that slipped between shortstop Alexei Ramirez and Johnson. Ramirez appeared to block Johnson on the play.
Key number
12: White Sox players on the opening day roster who were acquired in the offseason, including Samardzija.
The quote
"It seemed like this day would never come as we were going through things in October, November and December. ... A lot of it has to do with the anticipation for today and the excitement, getting ready to play games that matter that we've been visualizing for a long time. Obviously expectations are high in the clubhouse and around the club. It's now time to start delivering on those, which is exciting." -- White Sox general manager Rick Hahn
Up next
At Royals, 7:10 p.m. Wednesday. LH Jose Quintana vs. LH Danny Duffy.
