Shaky Paulino, 2013 Offense Show Up In Loss To Lyles, Rockies

The brightest spot in the White Sox's 3-3 start to the season was an offense that looked nothing like the massive black hole we saw in 2013.

Unfortunately for an already unimpressive Felipe Paulino, Monday's 8-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies showcased the fact that, no, the White Sox's offense isn't going to be able to keep them in every game.

Jordan Lyles was hardly overpowering over 6.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits, but it was enough to stop a floundering White Sox offense while the Rockies teed off on an increasingly shaky Paulino.

But while Paulino often escaped going into full-meltdown mode, allowing single runs in the first, second and third despite lousy control and a rising pitch count, the fifth inning is where everything went wrong when he allowed four of the first five hitters to reach by hit or walk. Daniel Webb came on and allowed two of his inherited runners to score and the White Sox found themselves behind 6-0.

Webb and Jake Petricka both allowed single runs to score during the final 3.2 innings combined, but the story was an offense that could only muster five hits against Lyles and a three-man bullpen that came into the game having allowed 12 ER in 24 IP thus far. Not a single batter registered more than one hit and the only hitters that showed even the slightest bit of patience were Conor Gillaspie (21 pitches seen in four at bats), and Tyler Flowers (two walks, 16 pitches seen in three at-bats THIS IS NOT A TYPO).

The White Sox's lone run of the game came with the score already at 7-0 when Alexei Ramirez doubled home Avisail Garcia (who broke out of an 0-for-16 slump with a single in the 5th inning).

Paulino ended up allowing six earned runs on nine hits over 4.2 innings, with four walks and two strikeouts.

Team Record: 3-4

Next game, Tuesday in Colorado at 7:40pm CT.

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