Chicago White Sox lose seventh straight
Let's go back to the 2013, when now retired captain Paul Konerko was asked if all the trade rumors affected the White Sox' performance on the field.
"Not really," Konerko said. "We were (bleep) before the rumors."
It is beginning to look like 2013 all over again for this year's Sox, who are riding a seven-game losing streak after falling 3-2 to the Pirates on Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
General manager Rick Hahn made one minor move before the latest loss, designating starting pitcher/reliever Hector Noesi for assignment and recalling Scott Carroll from Class AAA Charlotte.
If the White Sox (28-37) don't figure it out really quick, major moves are undoubtedly coming in advance of the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline.
"I think there is always that mentality, the way it's gone offensively, and if you're not winning games, that's what happens," manager Robin Ventura said.
"I'm sure that's somewhere on their minds, but you would rather have that somewhere on the back burner and come out and focus on the game more than the external stuff.
"Take all your energy and put it toward winning the game. External stuff takes you away from what you want to be doing during the game and it's never helpful. That stuff is never helpful."
While the Sox dropped another game, they did compete against a red-hot Pittsburgh team that has rattled off 8 wins in a row.
Even though they were outhit by the Pirates 13-3, the White Sox tied the game at 2-2 when catcher Geovany Soto came through with a solo home run off Pittsburgh ace Gerrit Cole (11-2) in the seventh inning.
The Pirates scored a run in the eighth off the Sox' bullpen that decided the outcome.
"We have to be able to put up more than that (2 runs)," Ventura said. "Jeff (Samardzija) pitched well tonight. He pitched well enough to win."
Acquired from Oakland in an off-season trade, Samardzija was looking to have a big season and very possibly signing a contract extension with the White Sox.
The way things are looking now, he is more likely to be traded in July.
"I've had a lot to prove since I've been here with the White Sox," Samardzija said after pitching 7 innings and allowing 2 runs on 10 hits. "I've wanted to be everything I can be.
"Sometimes you push too hard and it bounces back at you. I'm just trying to take my time and trust my stuff and don't let mistakes hurt me. Make them beat me in a different form."
While Ventura heaped praise on Samardzija, he was not at all happy with another poor defensive play caused by miscommunication.
With one out in the seventh inning, Corey Hart popped up to short center. Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez went back and center fielder Adam Eaton came in, but the ball dropped in between them.
"That's just bad," Ventura said. "I'm tired of even talking about it. They know it. We work on it all spring training. You've probably even seen it a few hundred times when we work on it. I'm getting tired of talking about it because that's just bad."
Ventura didn't single out Eaton or Ramirez for the gaffe, which Samardzija pitched over. "They need to catch it, is what they need to do," Ventura said.
Scouting report
White Sox vs. Texas Rangers at U.S. Cellular Field
TV: Comcast SportsNet today and Saturday; WGN Sunday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchups: The Sox' Chris Sale (6-3) vs. Colby Lewis (6-3) today at 7:10 p.m.; Carlos Rodon (2-1) vs. Nick Martinez (5-2) Saturday at 1:10 p.m.; Jose Quintana (3-7) vs. Yovani Gallardo (6-6) Sunday at 1:10 p.m.
At a glance: The Rangers won two of three against the Sox at home in early June. Heading into Thursday's games, Texas was third in the American League with 301 runs scored. The White Sox were last with 223 runs. In his last 4 starts, Sale is 3-1 with a 0.92 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 29⅓ innings.
Next: Minnesota Twins at Target Field, Monday-Wednesday
- Scot Gregor