McKnight: Jackson Has Masterpiece Outing For Sox
By Connor McKnight --
Add a 5-1 victory over the Rays plus Edwin Jackson's masterpiece outing and it all comes out to a great way to start the season at US Cellular field.
Jackson (2-0, 1.93 ERA) was spectacular. In 8 innings Jackson fanned 13—a career high and a White Sox record for any pitcher in a home opener—and allowed just one run on four hits and one walk. Between the 3rd and 7th innings, Jackson sat down 14 in a row striking out seven.
"I was able to come out early in the game and establish an early rhythm," Jackson said after the game. "[I] just continued on with it. Today I didn't really have too many innings where I was too wild. Any time I can do that and make the hitters put the ball in play, I give myself a better chance to go deep in the game."
Alex Rios may have snapped himself out of the small funk in which he started the season with a two-RBI double in the first. Paul Konerko added the third RBI of the game with a single in the 3rd that scored Rios from second.
It was the sixth straight game with an RBI for Konerko, which is the longest streak to start a season for any player in White Sox history.
"Paulie gives quality at-bats every single time he's up there," his teammate Carlos Quentin said. "He'll tell you, that [the streak] is a byproduct of that. You appreciate how professional he is every time. Doesn't matter what the score is; you can always count on him to bear down—especially with guys on base."
With the win, the Sox go to 4-2 on the season and will throw John Danks (0-1, 3.00 ERA) against James Shields (0-1, 2.45 ERA) tomorrow.
