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Overworked Chicago White Sox bullpen finally gets a break

As expected, the Robin Ventura haters were out in force Saturday.

The Chicago White Sox tied a franchise record with 7 home runs (all solo), but they lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 10-8.

Starter Miguel Gonzalez had an awful outing for the Sox, allowing 8 runs in 5⅓ innings.

Ventura again had to turn to the bullpen early, but he stayed away from his top relievers and rolled out Chris Beck, Dan Jennings, Michael Ynoa and Matt Purke.

Beck, Ynoa and Purke have spent most of the season in the minor leagues, and Ventura had little choice but to employ the unproven arms.

"We've got to find a way to get nine innings in," Ventura said. "They're going to get tested."

With Gonzalez and fellow starters James Shields and Carlos Rodon failing to pitch deep into games, primary White Sox relievers David Robertson, Nate Jones, Zach Duke and Matt Albers have been logging big innings throughout June.

It reached the point where all four needed a break Saturday, and Ventura said outfielder J.B. Shuck would have been on the mound if Saturday's game went into extra innings.

It didn't, because the inexperienced Ynoa gave up 2 runs in the top of the ninth and the Jays held on for the 10-8 win.

After the loss, Ventura took plenty of heat for not using Robertson, Jones, Duke or Albers, but they were unavailable.

Before ace Chris Sale gave the bullpen a needed break with 8 strong innings in Sunday's 5-2 victory over Toronto, Sox relievers had pitched 30 innings over an eight-game stretch. Over the past 20 games, the bullpen has pitched 3 or more innings 15 times.

"When I'm on the baseball field, there's nothing I love more than winning," Sale said. "A close second is keeping my guys in the bullpen. They've been working their butts off and have been used a lot and doing a great job. Any time you can get them a day off and freshen them up a little bit, that's big."

Duke, for one, appreciated the breather.

"Not just me, but David, Nate, Albers, we've all been throwing a lot," Duke said. "A little rest period is a good thing for all of us."

Monday's day off also was welcomed by a bullpen that has been thriving under a heavy workload while helping the White Sox win consecutive series over Boston and Toronto.

Robertson has converted 10 straight save chances, Jones has allowed only 3 earned runs in his last 14 ⅔ innings, and Albers gradually is returning to his early form, when he pitched 11 ⅔ scoreless innings in April.

Then there's Duke, who might have saved the White Sox's season last Monday when he retired three straight Red Sox hitters in the ninth inning after now injured Zach Putnam (elbow) walked the bases loaded.

In 8 June innings, Duke has allowed only 1 earned run while striking out 13.

"It's just finding a consistency in your delivery," the veteran left-hander said. "Try to maintain that same feeling every day, and I've fallen into a pretty good groove. I like where I'm at now. The ball's coming out of my hand well, there's a lot of life on it, and I'm able to locate it well. Hopefully, I can just stay where I'm at."

Heading into Monday, Duke was tied with the Texas Rangers' Sam Dyson and the Philadelphia Phillies' Hector Neris for the major-league lead with 39 relief appearances.

"I feel like I prepare myself in the off-season to make 70, 80 appearances," Duke said. "So far, I feel good. Unless I start going 3 or 4 innings every time out, I don't think I'll have any issues."

• Follow Scot's reports on Twitter@scotgregor.

Sox scouting report

White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins at U.S. Cellular Field

TV: Comcast SportsNet-Plus Tuesday; Comcast SportsNet Wednesday; WGN Thursday

Radio: WLS 890-AM

Pitching matchups: The White Sox's Jose Quintana (5-7) vs. Kyle Gibson (0-5) Tuesday at 7:10 p.m.; James Shields (2-9) vs. Ricky Nolasco (3-5) Wednesday at 7:10 p.m.; Carlos Rodon (2-6) vs. Tommy Milone (0-2) Thursday at 1:10 p.m.

At a glance: The White Sox won two of three against the Blue Jays at home over the weekend after winning three of four at Boston last week. The Sox are 6-0 vs. hapless Minnesota this season, and they've outscored the Twins 30-9. In 2 starts vs. Minnesota this season, Quintana is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA. The Twins (24-51) have the worst record in baseball, and they're 9-26 on the road. The White Sox are hitting .304 with 14 homers while averaging better than 6 runs in the last five games. Tim Anderson and J.B. Shuck both have hit home runs in consecutive games.

Next: Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, Friday-Sunday

- Scot Gregor

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