Chicago White Sox's slide continues

For some teams, reaching the .500 mark can be a springboard to greater success.

For other, it can be a slide into oblivion.

The Chicago White Sox are in the latter category.

Not only did they blow a 5-2 lead and fall to the Washington Nationals 10-5 on Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field, the Sox have lost 19 of 25 and have dropped to .500 (29-29) for the first time this season.

"We're on the wrong side of things and it seems like we've been on it for the last couple weeks," said leadoff man Adam Eaton, who is 8-for-53 over his last 14 games. "We can't just dwell on it, we have to be big boys and nobody is going to help us. Nobody is going to help us; we have to do it ourselves. Put a good foot forward and get going."

The Sox were going good early against the Nationals. Todd Frazier's 2-run homer (No. 19) gave them a 5-2 lead in the second inning.

But White Sox starter Mat Latos couldn't hold the advantage, and the right-hander turned in another ineffective outing, allowing 6 earned runs on 5 hits and 4 walks in 4⅓ innings.

"Horse(bleep) performance, period," Latos said. "I just felt like I was kind of fighting against myself, mechanics-wise or whatever. I walked, what? Three, four, five, six, seven? I don't know. I just walked a (bleep) ton of people. It was just a (bleep)-poor effort, period, on my half."

Miguel Gonzalez was moved to the bullpen when the Sox acquired James Shields in a Saturday trade from the Padres.

Gonzalez starts for Carlos Rodon (sore arm, neck) on Thursday, and given Latos' 7.46 ERA over his last 7 starts, Gonzalez should stay in the rotation when Rodon returns.

"I could care less about my ERA, strikeouts, you know, my own personal wins," Latos said. "The team gives you a lead like they did today and to just flat-out blow it is absolutely pathetic. There's nothing I can do about it now. Just get better and make up for it."

The White Sox have a lot of making up to do if they hope to climb out of fourth place in the AL Central, where they currently reside.

"It's tough," said manager Robin Ventura, who is sitting on an increasingly hot seat. "I think this stretch has been both sides. We've had it where it's offensive stuff, we've had it where it's been free passes and given up some runs. We've got to rally together and figure out a way to bring both of those together and win games like we were earlier.

"It's something you have to weather and you just have to get tired about it."