White Sox return home to take on reeling Tigers
It's been a tough stretch of the schedule for the Chicago White Sox.
Thursday night's game against the Rangers was the Sox' 11th road game in as many days, and they went a respectable 5-6 on a trip that made stops in Toronto, Baltimore, Houston and Texas.
The White Sox lost 2-1 in 11 innings when the Rangers' Shin-Soo Choo came through with a run-scoring single off reliever Dan Jennings.
Rookie starter Carlos Rodon was very good for the Sox, pitching 6 innings and allowing 1 run on 5 hits. The 22-year-old lefty also struck out 10, a career high.
Gordon Beckham's sacrifice fly in the fourth inning scored Avisial Garcia and pulled the White Sox into an early tie with Texas.
In need of a break after a grueling road swing, it looks like the White Sox are going to be getting one this weekend when the Tigers limp into U.S. Central Field.
The Tigers? The team that has won four straight AL Central titles while beating up on the Sox at will?
Yes, the Tigers.
Thursday's 7-5 home loss to the A's was Detroit's seventh in a row, the franchise's longest slide in more than four years.
The Tigers (28-27) typically have one of the most potent offenses in baseball, but they've been held to 2 runs or less eight times in the last 12 games and are obviously missing Victor Martinez, who has been out since May 19 with left knee inflammation.
Starter Justin Verlander has yet to pitch this season and is currently rehabbing from a triceps injury. The Tigers also are without catcher Alex Avila, who has been sidelined for a month with a knee injury.
Add it all up and Detroit looks like a team on the serious decline due to wear and tear and age issues.
When the Tigers play the Sox this weekend, one manager will be on the hot seat.
For a change, it won't be the White Sox' Robin Ventura.
It will be Brad Ausmus, who is in his second season in the Detroit dugout.
Ausmus has been taking a beating on social media sites, which comes as little surprise these days.
To his credit, Ausmus gets why Tigers fans are upset.
"I understand people want the team to win," Ausmus told the Detroit Free Press. "The fan base is one of the strongest in the country here. They want to see one (win) every day and when the season starts there's a hope somehow that you can go 162-0.
"But this is baseball. It's going to have its ups and downs and even the best teams at the end of the season sometimes midseason don't look like the team they are."
White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field
TV: Comcast SportsNet Plus today; FOX Saturday; WGN Sunday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchups: The Sox' Jose Quintana (2-6) vs. Kyle Ryan (1-0) today at 7:10 p.m.; John Danks (3-4) vs. David Price (4-2) Saturday at 6:15 p.m.; Jeff Samardzija (4-3) vs. Alfredo Simon (5-3) Sunday at 1:10 p.m.
At a glance: The White Sox return home after a grueling 11-game, 11-day road trip. On their last homestand, they went 2-5 against the Indians and Twins. Quintana continues to be victimized by poor run support. The left-hander has a 2.98 ERA over his last 7 starts but is 1-5. The White Sox are 3-3 vs. Detroit this season (2-1 at home). The Tigers have dropped seven straight, their longest losing streak since 2011. In 25 career games vs. Detroit, Jose Abreu is batting .375 with 9 doubles, 6 home runs and 19 RBI.
Next: Houston Astros at U.S. Cellular Field, Monday-Wednesday
- Scot Gregor