Humber’s results not so hot
White Sox pitchers have been phenomenal since the all-star break, and the staff entered Saturday night’s game against the Red Sox with the lowest ERA (1.92) in the majors during the second half.
That’s not to say there isn’t a weak link or two.
Jake Peavy has labored mightily since the break, allowing 7 runs on 17 hits in 12 innings over 2 starts.
Phil Humber is also a concern.
Pitching for the first time since in two weeks Saturday night against the Red Sox, Humber allowed only 1 hit through the first 4 innings, but he didn’t make it out of the fifth.
En route to a 10-2 win at U.S. Cellular Field, Boston scored 4 runs on 5 hits in the fifth inning and chased Humber with two outs.
Rusty?
“No, I felt like I was pretty sharp as far as commanding my fastball,” said Humber, who is 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA over his last 3 starts.
The Red Sox had 2 infield hits early in the fifth inning and they seemed to rattle Humber. But the right-hander was generally pleased with his outing.
“Not really a difference in the pitches I was making, just different results,” Humber said of the fifth. “Honestly, I looked over the tape and I didn’t really feel like the pitches that were hit were bad pitches. Obviously, a few infield hits there and I just couldn’t work out of it. Overall I was pretty pleased with how I threw the ball, but obviously I was hoping for a different result.”
Lineup change:Manager Ozzie Guillen said he#146;ll switch up his outfield for Sunday#146;s game against the Red Sox, but Alex Rios is still going to be in center.
#147;I#146;m going to give a day off to Juan (Pierre),#148; Guillen said. #147;I have (Brent) Lillibridge playing left field. Alex, hopefully he goes out and plays the game. I know it#146;s not easy when you#146;re not playing well and people are on you every at-bat, every play. This is Chicago. You#146;ve got to be tough and you#146;ve got to go out there and perform.#148;
Still sitting:If the White Sox are going to add a bat for the stretch run, it#146;s likely to be Dayan Viciedo.
The right fielder is batting .307 with 16 home runs and 65 RBI in 96 games with Class AAA Charlotte.
Viciedo is still out with a sore hand, which he hurt after being hit by a pitch last weekend. It is not related to the thumb injury that sidelined Viciedo during spring training.
#147;He took batting practice a couple days ago, and the hand is still bruised,#148; general manager Kenny Williams said. #147;What we don#146;t want to do is send him out there when he#146;s not feeling at full strength so he changes anything about his swing. So we#146;ll make sure he#146;s absolutely 100 percent ready to go before he gets out there. That#146;s the message that I#146;ve sent down and they#146;re certainly paying attention to it.#148;