Tough opening month continues for White Sox
April can't end fast enough for the Chicago White Sox.
A second straight lopsided loss (10-1) to the defending World Series champion Houston Astros Saturday night marked the fourth straight game the Sox have allowed double-digit runs.
They've lost six straight and are 2-13 after winning the first two games of the season.
Reliever Danny Farquhar is in the hospital with a brain hemorrhage.
Lucas Giolito struggled again Saturday (9 runs on 5 hits and 7 walks in 2 innings), and White Sox starters are now 1-10 with a 6.80 for the year.
It also looked like the White Sox had a Yoan Moncada problem after the second baseman was slow running down to first base in the second inning and subsequently pulled from the game by Rick Renteria.
The initial reason was "manager's decision," but Moncada said it was his left hamstring.
"I felt the hamstring was a little tight and then I told Ricky," Moncada said through an interpreter. "That was why he made the decision to take me out of the game."
Moncada said he should be ready to play Sunday.
Giolito lasted just 2 innings, and he is now 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA.
"About as bad as it could get," Giolito said. "I didn't have a feel for much of anything. Seven walks, unacceptable. Put the bullpen in that situation, unacceptable. It's one of those ones that you throw away and move on to tomorrow and just continue to work on it."
Temper, temper:
Justin Verlander was happy with his 6 scoreless innings in Friday's start against the White Sox, but the Astros' ace was not thrilled with Tim Anderson's baserunning actions.
After breaking up Verlander's no-hit bid with a one-out single in the fifth inning, Anderson tried to steal second on a 3-0 pitch, which was ball four to Omar Navarez.
Anderson was animated after moving up to second base, and he was later picked off trying to steal third.
"I don't even know what he's celebrating," Verlander said. "He didn't get credit for a stolen base. Maybe he thought he did. I don't know."
Anderson didn't have much to say after the Sox's 10-0 loss.
"I could care less," Anderson said. "I'm out just playing and having fun. If he took it to heart, so what?"
Infante's back:
Optioned to Class AAA Charlotte on April 11 after going 0-1 with a 16.62 ERA in 6 relief appearances, right-hander Gregory Infante rejoined the White Sox's bullpen Saturday.
Infante replaces Danny Farquhar (brain aneurysm) on the 25-man roster. He pitched 3 scoreless innings for Charlotte.