Gonzalez, Cabrera help White Sox end 5-game skid
The White Sox needed a big effort from someone, anyone, Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
Melky Cabrera and Brett Lawrie answered the bell early, hitting back-to-back doubles which accounted for the Sox's entire offensive output against Washington.
Shortstop Tyler Saladino answered with a big defensive play, throwing out Jose Lobaton at home plate in the sixth inning.
But when reviewing the White Sox's 3-1 win over the Nationals, starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez stood the tallest.
"You can see it in the results," Gonzalez said after pitching 6 innings and allowing 1 run on 3 hits. "Staying within myself. If I try to do too much, it kind of changes the game. We needed this win."
The Sox snapped a five-game losing streak and are back at the .500 level with a 30-30 record.
"This is going to change everything," Gonzalez said. "We've got (Chris) Sale tomorrow and that's going to be fun to watch him pitch. He's been battling for a couple of games, but we're glad to have him here."
Ventura on hot seat?
When asked about manager Robin Ventura's job status before Thursday night's win over the Nationals, general manager Rick Hahn gave an expected response.
"I don't think you've ever seen me telegraph any move or comment on any individual player or anybody in uniform or scout or anyone like that," Hahn said. "From my standpoint, when things are going tough the best thing you can do is rally around the guys you have here, do everything in your power to put them in the best position to win with the people you have in that clubhouse. That's all you're going to hear from me in terms of anyone in uniform."
Ventura has always been able to block out any speculation he's going to be fired.
"That's always there," Ventura said. "You guys have been asking that all year, so that part hasn't changed. It didn't change four years ago. It's always there."
Danish delighted:
Tyler Danish was watching Netflix in Birmingham late Wednesday night when he got the call that he was joining the White Sox.
"I had to take a knee when I found out," he said.
After going 3-7 with a 4.42 ERA as a starter with the Class AA Barons this season, Danish joined the Sox as a relief pitcher.
"It was a little surprising," the 21-year-old Danish said. "I wasn't expecting it, but you never really can tell with these things. Starting, you're obviously working deeper into games than as a bullpen game. But it's still the same game, throw strikes to get outs."