CLEVELAND — The White Sox put prized right-hander Michael Kopech on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring Monday and recalled right-hander Jimmy Lambert from Triple-A Charlotte to serve as the 27th player and start Game 2 of the Sox’ doubleheader against the Indians.
Kopech, 25, who was on the bereavement list the previous four days, is with the team in Cleveland getting treatment on his hamstring. The move to the IL wasn’t a surprise, although manager Tony La Russa didn’t offer a prognosis on Kopech before the game. The move is retroactive to May 28.
Kopech hurt the hamstring throwing the last pitch of his one inning against the Cardinals last Wednesday. A valuable piece of the pitching staff who has worked mostly in relief, he likely would have made his fourth start Monday. He’s 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 31 „ innings.
Lambert, one of the Sox’ top prospects, pitched 3 ⅔ innings against the Indians, allowing three runs and seven hits, including a two-run homer to Jose Ramirez. He walked one and struck out four, throwing 74 pitches (43 strikes).
He made his first two appearances with the Sox in relief last season before going on the injured list July 29 with a strained right forearm. He has pitched to a 4.19 ERA in five minor-league seasons and is 0-0 with a 7.71 ERA (10 earned runs in 11 ⅔ innings) with 23 strikeouts in five starts for Charlotte this year.
Reynaldo Lopez might have been considered for the Game 2 start, but he has a 6.55 ERA in three starts for Charlotte with eight runs and 15 hits allowed in 11 innings.
Billy ball
Billy Hamilton, the light-hitting veteran who homered twice during a four-game sweep of the Orioles over the weekend, made his presence known with his speed in Game 1 after entering as a defensive replacement. He stole third as the free runner in the eighth and scored the go-ahead run on Jose Abreu’s sacrifice fly.
In Game 2, Hamilton started in center field, doubled down the first-base line, advanced on a wild pitch and scored the Sox’ first run on Nick Madrigal’s single.
Hamilton always has the green light on the bases.
“Billy is on his own the minute he gets on,” La Russa said.
Rodon saves best for last
Lefty Carlos Rodon, who threw a no-hitter against the Indians on April 14, gave up homers to the first two batters he faced in Game 1 — Cesar Hernandez and Amed Rosario — and allowed another to Hernandez in the third but finished six innings, allowing a season-high five runs that raised his ERA to 1.98.
Rodon, who threw 85 pitches, struck out Hernandez with a 99 mph fastball on his final pitch in the sixth, with the go-ahead run on third and a runner at second.
“I just knew . . . I was going to give it all I had on that fastball,” Rodon said. “Wanted to challenge him because he hadn’t seen one like that yet. . . . Tony, if you’re hearing this, I really appreciate you letting me get that last out.”
Allergies sideline Vaughn
Utilityman Andrew Vaughn sat out both games with a bad case of allergies. He did collect a hit, however, thanks to MLB crediting him with a double against the Yankees on May 21 for what originally was deemed a two-base error on Miguel Andujar.
