The White Sox started their season in the unfriendly confines of the Ballpark in Texas. The Rangers are picked by many to return to the World Series for the 3rd straight year, while the Sox are picked by most to return home after their last game in October.

At least the Sox can show where they stack up against one of baseballs powerhouses. I think they performed pretty well, and if Ian Kinsler didn’t play, they may have actually won. He did, and they didn’t. Rangers took game 1 of 162, 3-2.

Kinsler went 2-4 with a double, a home run, and 2 runs scored.

Kinslers heroics ruined Adam Dunn’s day. The slugger, who popped just 11 home runs last year, blasted his first of the year in the 6th inning. Dunn looks like his masher self, but lets not get too far ahead of ourselves. Dunn also hit an opening day home run last year, as well. Still, nice to see him crush one.

Dunn’s home run now ties him for the top spot in baseball. haha

Never been much of a hitter, I actually suck, but I wonder why the Sox had trouble laying off Colby Lewis‘ cutter. For those of you wondering, a cutter is a pitch that when thrown by a right-hander breaks away from a right handed hitter, or goes down and in to lefties.

The Sox were putty to Lewis this afternoon, striking out 9 times. Actually they struck out 13 times in 9 innings, setting a new Ranger record for strikeouts on opening day. Yes, I stole that stat.

Nolan Ryan and Robin Ventura brawled before the game, with Ventura kicking the Express’ ass. Sorry, that was a dream. No really, they talked for the first time since their infamous fight 19 seasons ago. I know that is a huge deal to everyone, but it’s 19 years ago. Most baseball fans don’t remember what happened yesterday, let alone in 1993.

Glad we can put that to bed.

Like early last year, John Danks pitched just well enough to lose. The Texan gave up just 3 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings. Not bad, but once again he was on the short end of things.

Sox used 2 of their closer candidates when they were losing. Addison Reed and Matt Thornton both pitched a scoreless inning.

So now the Sox closing spot belongs to either Jesse Crain, Will Ohman or Hector Santiago. I wonder who it’ll be? I’ll let you figure out who it is.

Let’s chart HBP, a real bugaboo for the Sox last year.

One game, Alex Rios plunked. It was by a 74 MPH curveball, but still hit by pitch.

Jake Peavy takes the hill tomorrow.

Go Sox!