As season-long slump continues, LaRoche takes a seat

Adam LaRoche was on the bench for the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

With the Sox still scrapping to get back in the wild-card race, LaRoche might be sitting for an extended period.

A colossal disappointment after signing a two-year, $25 million free-agent contract in November, LaRoche has a .213/.304/.344 hitting line with 10 home runs and 37 RBI.

The 35-year-old designated hitter/first baseman is batting .165 over his last 34 games. In July, LaRoche failed to homer for the first time in a month since May 2011.

"He's hit some hard," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "There's definitely frustration on his part. But I thought (Monday) night he had a couple good at-bats and didn't really get anything out of it. It's frustrating. I know what it feels like.

"It's not always fun to go through that. But knowing him and what he does every day, you like the fact that he's probably been through some rough patches before, so he can withstand it and deep down know he can help us."

Considering the left-handed LaRoche is batting .173 (14-for-81) with no home runs and 7 RBI against left-handed pitchers, he probably is looking at a platoon role, at best, the rest of the season.

With lefty Hector Santiago starting for the Angels on Tuesday, LaRoche sat out, Trayce Thompson started in left field and Melky Cabrera was the Sox' DH.

"Having Trayce, I think we can put him in there (left field), we can get Melky time as a DH, get him a little bit of rest," Ventura said.

Thompson, who joined the White Sox from Class AAA Charlotte on Aug. 3, hit his first major-league home run Tuesday, a solo shot in the fifth inning.

"He can play," Ventura said. "Just the athleticism that he has, he's handled himself great."

Shuck update:

Reserve outfielder J.B. Shuck, who has been on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring since Aug. 1, is close to going on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment.

"Every day I get a little bit stronger and get a little bit more explosive on the running," Shuck said. "It's still feeling pretty good."

Shuck has been a key contributor off the bench for the Sox this season, batting .278 with 11 RBI in 54 games.

"You never want to spend time on the DL, but it happens," Shuck said. "I'm not going to worry about it. As soon as I get healthy, I'm going to get back out there and I think this staff here will help me get back into my groove as soon as I can."

Remembering Billy:

The White Sox have been wearing No. 9 patches on their right uniform sleeves this season in memory of the late Minnie Minoso.

On Tuesday, the Sox added a No. 19 patch in remembrance of Billy Pierce, who died July 31 at 88. Pierce is the White Sox' all-time leader in strikeouts with 1,796, He is third all time with 35 shutouts and fourth with 195 wins.