Washington Routs Plummeting White Sox, 11-4
CHICAGO (AP) — Ryan Zimmerman hit one of three home runs off James Shields in his miserable White Sox debut, Max Scherzer threw seven scoreless innings and the Washington Nationals routed reeling Chicago, 11-4, on Wednesday night.
Zimmerman's two-run shot in a four-run first inning was followed by consecutive shots by Stephen Drew and Danny Espinosa to lead off the second.
Everyone in the Nationals lineup reached base safely at least once in two-plus innings off Shields (2-8), who was booed while giving up seven runs and eight hits three days after being acquired from San Diego.
Instead of jump-starting a club once 23-10, Shields failed to get out of the third inning for the second straight start. The White Sox lost for the 20th time in 26 games to fall under .500.
Scherzer (7-4) allowed five hits for the Nationals, who have scored at least 10 runs in three straight games.
Jayson Werth hit a three-run homer off David Robertson in the eighth as the Nationals pounced on Shields for their seventh win in nine games.
Shields, who helped Tampa Bay and Kansas City reach the World Series in recent years, has fallen on hard times since signing a four-year, $75 million deal with San Diego before last season.
Padres executive Ron Fowler called his performance "an embarrassment" after he allowed 10 runs in 2 2/3 innings last week. He was traded to the White Sox four days later, and had command issues again.
Zimmerman crushed a belt-high 90 mph fastball to left in the first, before the lefty-hitting Drew and Espinosa pulled off-speed pitches.
The crowd cheered sarcastically when Shields struck out Bryce Harper after four straight hits in the second. Fans jeered when Shields was yanked after Anthony Rendon's leadoff single in the third.
Scherzer retired the first nine batters, struck out six and walked one.
The White Sox scored four in the ninth to avoid being shut out.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.