Rodon, Chicago White Sox fall flat in 7-0 loss
The top four starting pitchers propped the Chicago White Sox up over the first two weeks of the season and lifted them to an 8-4 record heading into the start of a seven-game homestand Monday night.
Picking up where it left off last year, the Sox's offense has been nearly invisible in the early going, and the trend continued during a 7-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels at U.S. Cellular Field.
“We need to get this offense going,” leadoff man Adam Eaton said. “Again, there's a ton of talent. We all know that. I think that's the reason we've come up with a question mark is because we know this offense can produce, and it will.”
Perhaps, but the White Sox are batting .219 as a team and have scored just 39 runs in 13 games. They've also struck out 103 times in 434 at-bats.
“They're going to have to figure this one out,” manager Robin Ventura said when asked if any lineup changes are coming.
One roster move came after the Sox's third straight loss.
Carlos Rodon, who had 10 straight quality starts dating back to last season, couldn't make it out of the first inning against the Angels.
With no feel for his slider combined with an arrow straight fastball, Rodon was lit up for 5 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while retiring just one L.A. hitter before being lifted.
“Felt good coming out and it just wasn't there,” said Rodon, who was sharp in his first 2 starts this season. “No command, nothing. Just didn't make it happen.”
It was the shortest outing for a White Sox starter since Neal Cotts also went one-third of an inning at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 28, 2003.
“Carlos didn't have it tonight,” manager Robin Ventura said. “They did a good job putting it in play. He just seemed to be all over the place and he couldn't get through. You need the bullpen to be able to pick up those innings and those guys came in and did a great job.”
Jake Petricka, Zach Putnam, Dan Jennings and Zach Duke combined to pitch 8⅔ innings in relief of Rodon, and they allowed 2 runs on 7 hits.
But Petricka, Putnam and Jennings all figure to need at least one day of rest, so the Sox optioned outfielder J.B. Shuck to Class AAA Charlotte after the game and they'll bring up a minor-league pitcher Tuesday.
Rodon had a few forgettable starts as a rookie last season, but he did finish strong. The Sox hope he can repeat that process.
“I had it happen before,” Rodon said. “But it would have been nice to go three or four for the guys instead of a third of an inning and get one out.
“Just kind of forget about it. I had nine innings of baseball to think about it. Tomorrow's a new day and this team has got to win; we've got to get out of this losing streak and get this thing going again.”