Chicago White Sox ease frustration with 6-1 win over Brewers

Chicago White Sox manager Rick Renteria understands James Shields' frustration.

Following Saturday's 5-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, Shields snapped a bit when asked about the hazards of playing for a rebuilding team.

"Frankly, I don't really care about the rebuild right now," Shields said. "I care about winning. They keep talking about rebuild, and I'm trying to win ballgames right now, period. I don't like losing. We are losing ballgames right now."

Said Renteria: ""It is about winning. I think we talk about it as often as we can as a reminder. Nobody's here just to show up and be here, get out to the field with the idea they're going to fail, not help their club to win.

"A guy who's been around, it's probably natural to have frustrations. (Shields) should."

The frustration was eased Sunday in the Sox's 6-1 interleague victory over the Brewers at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Trailing 1-0 in the fifth inning, rookie catcher Alfredo Gonzalez tied the game with his first major-league hit, a single to left field.

Gonzalez was hitless in his first 7 at-bats with the White Sox after coming up from Class AAA Charlotte to replace suspended catcher Welington Castillo.

"It was a very exciting moment for me," Gonzalez said through a translator. "I've been working hard for this. To get my first hit and first RBI was very special. I was really excited. I was dreaming for that moment my whole career. For me, that was like living a dream."

In the sixth inning, the Sox went in front for good on pinch hitter Daniel Palka's 2-run homer. Adam Engel followed with a solo shot to make it 4-1. Palka's 433-foot blast to right field off Milwaukee reliever Matt Albers was the White Sox's first pinch-hit home run of the season.

"Honestly, I just kind of took it as the first at-bat of the game," Palka said. "It's easy getting ready since we've got the cage right here in the tunnel. Same routine as starting a game."

Dylan Covey started for the Sox and pitched 5 innings, allowing 1 unearned run on 4 hits and 3 walks. Covey also had 7 strikeouts.

The White Sox (18-38) won two of three from the Brewers (37-23), who came in having won six straight series.

"It's big," Renteria said. "I think our guys should feel good about what they just did. It was a good club we took two out of three from. A lot of things had to go well.

"They're a club that takes advantage of a lot of mistakes and, fortunately for us in at least two of the three, we minimized those things and were able to come out on top."

Battle ready:

Blake Battenfield has come a long way from last season, when he was struggling in relief at Advanced Rookie Great Falls after being drafted in the 17th round out of Oklahoma State.

The big right-hander was 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA in 5 May starts with low Class A Kannapolis, earning minor-league pitcher-of-the-month honors.

"It means a lot," Battenfield said. "There's a bunch of really talented pitchers in this organization. I'm just glad that I could be recognized for what I did this past month. Hopefully I can continue to produce." The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder said adding a changeup and curveball and relying more on a four-seam fastball have allowed him to succeed as a starter.

"The four-pitch mix has been a big reason why I've had success here lately," Battenfield said. "I'm hoping to continue to develop the curveball and the changeup and always keep my fastball command good, because it always starts with the fastball."

Familiar face:

Tyler Saladino was at Guaranteed Rate Field over the weekend, but he was in the Brewers' clubhouse.

On April 19, Saladino was traded to Milwaukee for cash considerations. He played great baseball for the Brewers, batting .311 with 3 home runs and 8 RBI in 22 games before landing on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle Tuesday.

"It was a significant ankle sprain," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. "Tyler was playing exceptionally well. He was filling in a little bit and he got off to an incredibly hot start. He had some great at-bats.

"He was incredibly productive offensively and, most important of all, he was flawless at shortstop. He just played exceptionally well."

Saladino was with the Brewers' training staff receiving treatment on the ankle most of the weekend.