Chicago White Sox still waiting for Garcia to produce

With the White Sox clinging to a 2-0 lead against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night, Avisail Garcia came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out.

Instead of breaking the game open, Garcia nearly broke his bat, slamming it to the ground after being retired on a short flyball to right field.

And Garcia nearly broke his batting helmet after returning to the dugout and launching it in the tunnel to the clubhouse.

The White Sox wound up defeating the Angels 5-0, but Garcia had another rough game at the plate, going 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts.

Moved to designated hitter after the Sox signed Austin Jackson to play center field and shifted Adam Eaton to right, Garcia already is in danger of losing his job.

"He's been here enough," manager Robin Ventura said when asked if Garcia is still in the growing phase as a player. "You talk about developing, but he also needs to produce, and he knows that.

"I think he's at a point now where he needs to get some at-bats and produce, and it's not as much about developing as about just playing."

Would Garcia be better off getting at-bats with Class AAA Charlotte? In 13 games with the White Sox this season, the .156/.240/.311 hitting line is not good.

With Eaton occupying his old spot in right field, Garcia has started 11 games at DH and has not come close to adapting.

"I think there's something to that," Ventura said. "I don't think he's necessarily bought in to being a DH. I don't think he's going to be a DH for his career. But for where we're at right now, this is what he needs to do. We're going to find a way for him to get better at it."

Coming off a disappointing 2015 season, Garcia changed his stance at the plate. He is standing taller in an attempt to hit for more power.

The adjustment paid off in spring training, when the 24-year-old batted .361 with 5 home runs and a team-high 19 RBI in 20 Cactus League games.

But outside of a 3-run homer against Cleveland on April 9 at U.S. Cellular Field and a long solo home run at Minnesota two games later, Garcia looks a lot like he did last year as opposing pitchers work him over inside and get him to chase bad pitches outside.

"This is any rut that you would normally have during the season, but it becomes a little more magnified because he's DHing for the first time," Ventura said.

Getting personal:

Newcomer Mat Latos has won his first 3 starts, and new catcher Dioner Navarro has been behind the plate in every game.

Latos and Navarro were teammates with the Cincinnati Reds in 2012 and worked well together.

"It makes me kind of happy because of everything he has been through," Navarro said. "He's a really good friend of mine, off the field, too, so I'm glad that I'm a part of it."

Through 3 starts, Latos has a 0.49 ERA, and the right-hander has allowed just 6 hits in 18⅓ innings.

"I'd like to take credit for it," Latos said of his surprising start. "I'm the one throwing the pitches, but (Navarro) does call a really good game. I shook him off again and got yelled at.

"One of these days I'll learn my lesson."