Yermin Mercedes recorded his first major league base hit, which led Chicago White Sox to win by 12-8 over Los Angeles Angels in their season-opening game at Anaheim, California.
Mercedes is a designated hitter for the Sox and created history in just his second career game. He went 5 for 5 in an outstanding performance and also drove in four runs. The 28-year-old catcher delivered a two-run single in the fourth and a two-run double in the ninth inning session.
However, since 1900, another player who got five hits at the beginning of his career was Cecil Travis of the Washington Senators. “Yermín Mercedes is the first player to go 5-for-5 in his first career start in the modern era. The only other player in the modern era to have 5 hits in his first career start is Washington’s Cecil Travis (5 H, 7 AB; 05/16/1933 vs. CLE),” Sox twitted about the record. Before 1900, Louisville Colonels’ Fred Clarke also had the same record in 1894.
Yermín Mercedes is the first player to go 5-for-5 in his first career start in the modern era. The only other player in the modern era to have 5 hits in his first career start is Washington’s Cecil Travis (5 H, 7 AB; 05/16/1933 vs. CLE). https://t.co/CZBspQUBEv
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) April 3, 2021
Yermin Mercedes #73 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates his RBI double with third base coach Joe McEwing #47 (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
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Chicago White Sox beats Los Angeles Angels
Other Chicago players also helped the Sox win against the Angels. Left fielder Andrew Vaughn got his big game debut while going 0-for-3 with a walk and a run. Besides, José Abreu is playing his seventh season with Chicago and hits a grand slam for the third time in his career, which gives the Sox a 4-1 lead.
Michael Kopech’s contribution was notable as he struck out three in two-plus innings since September 2018. Kopech, along with Abreu, added three runs in the fourth. Further, Andrew Vaughn scored a single on Adam Eaton.
However, Angels fought back too. Albert Pujols hit a three-run in the fourth to make it 7-4. Anthony Rendon and Eaton added two runs in the sixth.
The Angels’ effort faded in front of Yermin Mercedes’ historical record. It seems he was on his own to bring out the victory for the Sox. The Los Angeles Angels will face the Sox again tomorrow with the hope to make it even.
