Eaton not interested in dwelling on 'bad play'

Did Adam Eaton's baserunning gaffe in the ninth inning Tuesday night cost the White Sox?

Considering they lost to the Oakland A's 17-6, the obvious answer is no.

Still, Sox manager Robin Ventura was not happy that Eaton tried stretching a single into a double.

“It's not the end of the world, but it's not the smartest play either,” Ventura said. “Part of it is just admitting that it wasn't a smart play.”

Eaton wasn't available after Tuesday's lopsided loss, and he wasn't in the mood for admitting much Wednesday.

“I get that I made a bad play,” Eaton said. “Why are we going to shine a light on that when we were down how many runs at that point?

“I'm trying to make something happen. I saw how the play was coming about. I saw him (A's center fielder Sam Fuld) kind of backhand it and kind of slow down. I was trying to make something happen.”

Ventura wasn't happy about Eaton's decision after the game or before Wednesday's game.

“I understand that,” Eaton said before the White Sox defeated Oakland 9-4 at U.S. Cellular Field. “You guys were the ones who asked the question about it and he's got to answer it some way. I goofed up. It's in the past. We are going to try to move forward. Thank you.”

Eaton was back in the lineup Wednesday as the White Sox' designated hitter. He led off the first inning with a triple and Carlos Sanchez followed with a 2-run homer.

Jose Abreu hit a solo home run (No. 29) in the third inning and Mike Olt went deep for the first time since joining the Sox with a 2-run shot in the fourth.

According to Elias, Olt is the first player to hit home runs for the White Sox and Cubs in the same season.

“That's a nice accomplishment,” Ventura said. “It's surprising that nobody's done that before. I'm glad he got the second one here.”

Starter Erik Johnson (2-0) pitched 6 innings and allowed 3 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks.

“I thought my command was pretty good,” he said. “The first two walks were on 3-2 pitches and they were fouling some good pitches off. I was aggressive in the zone with multiple pitches.”

As for Eaton, Ventura said he gets into trouble by trying to force the action.

“I think part of his thing is his aggressiveness and the way he plays,” Ventura said. “Sometimes he gets out in front of what's a smart play and, right there, that wasn't a smart play.”

Thompson scratched:

Trayce Thompson sat out Tuesday's game with a left-elbow strain, but he was initially in Wednesday's starting lineup batting sixth and playing center field.

Thompson was a late scratch and was replaced by J.B. Shuck.

“I want to make sure he's close to 100 percent,” manager Robin Ventura said. “He's close, but he said he didn't feel like he could get after it.”

Carroll back:

With the White Sox' bullpen weary following 3-inning starts from Chris Sale on Sunday and Jeff Samardzija on Tuesday sandwiched by a 14-inning game Monday, relief pitcher Scott Carroll was recalled from Class AAA Charlotte.

In three earlier stints with the Sox this season, the right-hander was 1-1 with a 3.41 ERA.

Carroll pitched the ninth inning Wednesday and gave up 1 run on 2 hits.

When Carroll was optioned back to Charlotte in early August, he left his car in Chicago in anticipation of being added to the White Sox' expanded September roster.

Carroll's car apparently has been stolen.

“Near Wicker Park, off of Damen Avenue,” Carroll said. “So if anyone knows of a Cadillac Escalade driving around there, that would help out.

“I was gone in Charlotte the whole time, and it was stolen while I was gone. I came back to get my stuff and drive back home, and it was gone.”