Chicago at Des Moines Series Results 
04/06/40: Chicago Black Sox @ Des Moines Kernels - Win, 9-4.
Black Sox Score Late, Upend Kernels, 9-4
W: Á. Díaz (1-0) L: R. Gabriel (0-1) .
HR - CHI: D. Dave 2 (2), H. Popo (2), S. Morales (1) DM: J. Holman (1)
04/07/40: Chicago Black Sox @ Des Moines Kernels - Loss, 8-9.
Kernels Come Back Late, Nip Black Sox
W: J. Castro (2-0) L: L. Gonzáles (0-1) .
HR - CHI: E. Lugo (1), L. González (2) DM: L. De La Cruz (2), E. Garza (2), C. White 2 (3), H. Cruz (1)
04/08/40: Chicago Black Sox @ Des Moines Kernels - Loss, 1-4.
Black Sox Lose, 4-1, at Patrick D. Tillman Memorial Park
W: J. García (1-1) L: M. Peña (0-2) S: J. Castro (2).
HR - DM: J. Jaramillo (1), J. Holman (2)
04/09/40: Chicago Black Sox @ Des Moines Kernels - Win, 4-1.
Black Sox Hope Win Turns Around Slow Start
W: A. Soto (1-1) L: D. Smith (1-1) S: L. Gonzáles (2).
HR - CHI: M. Simpson (1)
Game 1 Notables: Starter Juan Nicto pitched well enough to win, but came out after one out in the 7th inning with the score tied at 3. His PQS score was 5 … The Sox scored 6 runs in the top of the 8th, powered by back-to-back-to-back homers from pinch hitter Hotha Popo, SS Santiago Morales, and C Diesel Dave … Player of the Game: Diesel Dave … Cliché of the Game: “Diesel is still learning,” said Sox manager Bret Richards. “The sky’s the limit for him.”
Game 2 Notables: The Black Sox great relief hope gacked it up big time in the bottom of the 9th. Closer Luis Gonzáles gave up 2 homers - one a grand slam - as Des Moines scored 5 runs to win a game it had no business winning … 3B Luis González and DH Emilio Lugo each had homers and rookie CF Jim Lorenzen had a couple of hits, but it wasn’t enough to offset the late Des Moines barrage … Player of the Game: Des Moines CF Craig White, who went 2-3 with with 2 homers, 2 RBIs, a walk and 3 runs … Cliché of the Game: “We had the game right there for the taking, but we decided not to take it,” said Sox manager Bret Richards. Oh, it may be a cliché, but that doesn't mean the man is wrong.
Game 3 Notables: Chicago starter Manuel Peña got nicked for 4 runs in 6 innings of work to notch his second loss of the season … Des Moines starter Juan García shut down the Sox, allowing 5 hits and one run while issuing 1 walk and 6 Ks … DH Emilio Lugo was the sole offensive bright spot, going 2-3 with a double and an RBI … Player of the Game: Juan García … Cliché of the Game: “Juan is still learning,” said Kernels manager Troy Coffman. “The sky’s the limit for him.” Something tells us he was taking notes on Bret Richards’ press conference after the April 6 game.
Game 4 Notables: Chicago’s No. 4 starter, Alejandro Soto, turned in a strong effort, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing 6 hits and 1 run while striking out 6 and walking 1 en route to his first win of the season … 2B Rocky Wattson and Des Moines SP Don Smith were ejected as a result of a bench clearing brawl in the top of the 5th. Wattson charged the mound after Smith hit him with a pitch … 1B Mark Simpson had his best game so far for Chicago as he went 2-3 with a home run, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored … Player of the Game: Mark Simpson … Cliché of the Game: “It was a solid team effort,” said Simpson after the win.
In Sum: Even though the Sox split a series on the road, this had to go down as a disappointment given how they lost Game 2. With a closer rated as highly as Gonzáles is rated, Chicago shouldn't be coughing up 4-run leads in the 9th. Manager Bret Richards keeps agitating to move Gonzáles into the rotation, and perhaps the Sox will try that at some point if things don't straighten around in the near future.