Chicago White Sox's second half slide continues in 2-1 loss to Tigers

The slide actually started right before the all-star break, when the Chicago White Sox dropped two of three games to the Braves at home.

Atlanta came to U.S. Cellular Field two weekends ago with the worst record (28-57) in the major leagues.

The Sox opened the second half of the season on the West Coast, losing three straight to the Los Angeles Angels while being outscored 16-1.

Moving up the Seattle, the White Sox dropped two of three to the Mariners, blowing big leads in both losses.

Returning home Thursday night, the Sox (46-49) absorbed another stinging loss, falling to the Tigers 2-1 in a game called by rain in the seventh inning following a 2-hour, 5-minute delay.

"We've gotten off to a start here in the second half that frankly is very disappointing," general manager Rick Hahn said. "It probably goes back to the Atlanta series, after playing five very good series in a row against quality opponents and then having a bit of a letdown heading into the break and then coming out of the break."

For the most part, the White Sox's starting pitching has been very good during the rough stretch that started against the Braves.

Against Detroit on Thursday, James Shields delivered his sixth quality start in a row, pitching 6 innings and allowing 2 runs on 7 hits. Over his last 3 starts, all losses, the Sox have scored 1 run for Shields in 21⅔ innings.

"It's tough, any time there's a game called because of rain," manager Robin Ventura said. "I thought he pitched a good game. He had the couple homers there, but he looked sharp. He seems over the hump.

"Those first games were tough. He came here, a lot of expectations and he got beat around a little bit. Right now, he's back to the guy we figured we were getting."

Tim Anderson's RBI single off Tigers starter Mike Pelfrey gave the Sox the early lead in the third inning.

In the fifth, Shields have up solo home runs to Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera.

Injury updates:

Starter Carlos Rodon, who is on the disabled list with a sprained left wrist and hasn't pitched since July 5, is scheduled to throw off the mound Tuesday and again later in the week.

After that, the White Sox are planning on sending Rodon to the minor leagues for a rehab start.

"He is advancing and improving and hopefully that rehab isn't too far off," general manager Rick Hahn said.

Elsewhere, the injury news is not so good.

Reliever Zach Putnam is "very likely" to have surgery to remove bone chips from his throwing (right) elbow.

"We'll know his prognosis after the surgery, but it's obviously going to be several weeks after that before he potentially could return," Hahn said.

Catcher Alex Avila is on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring for the second time this season. He aggravated the injury Tuesday while on a rehab assignment with Class AAA Charlotte.

"He's probably at least four weeks away from being activated at this point," Hahn said. "We're going to have to have him heal and then get him back to baseball activity."

Center fielder Austin Jackson has been on the DL since June 10 with a medial meniscus tear in his left knee. His return is still unknown.

"Austin had a follow-up MRI," Hahn said. "It showed some modest improvement in terms of the bone marrow adema and meniscus issues that were repaired. He will likely in the coming days slowly begin ramping up non-impact activity.

"It's going to be a slow return for him. It's going to be a while. Assuming he doesn't have a setback with the non-impact, then we'll start ramping up baseball, although we're still several weeks away on that one."

Thursday night against the Tigers, second baseman Brett Lawrie left the game after the third inning with left-hamstring tightness.