Sox lose 10th straight to Indians, 3-1
It used to be the West Coast. And for a long stretch, it was the Minnesota Twins.
This season, it's the Cleveland Indians.
Try as they might, the White Sox just can't beat the Indians, and Friday afternoon's 3-1 decision was their 10th straight loss to Cleveland.
“We've had our opportunities,” manager Robin Ventura after the Sox dropped to 2-13 against the Indians on the season. “I think even today and at their place. (Thursday) night (a 14-3 loss) was one of those where you didn't have a chance from the beginning. For most of them, we've had chances.”
The White Sox were 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position against hard-throwing Cleveland starter Danny Salazar and seven relief pitchers.
Salazar lasted just 3⅔ innings, but the right-hander had 9 strikeouts.
“(Salazar) throws hard, throws a lot of fastballs,” said Marcus Semien, who started at second base and went 2-for-5. “You've got to be ready for the fastball against him. We put together some good at-bats, but we struck out a little bit. I like where we're going — we've just got to get those big hits. We should be winning games because we're pitching well.”
Like Salazar, Sox starter Hector Santiago didn't last too long. The left-hander threw 94 pitches in 4 innings while allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks.
“He's probably a little tired,” Ventura said. “I would imagine that's part of it. As far as being able to locate, he's just getting into too much trouble. You've seen it probably during the course of the year, but I think it's been increased with the workload and where he's at. He could just be tired.”
Santiago (4-9, 3.53 ERA) has thrown 142⅔ innings this season after pitching 70⅓ innings for the White Sox last year.
“For the most part, it's been a successful season,” Santiago said. “I feel where I'm at right now is not where I want to be innings-wise and going deep into the games. I don't feel tired. Maybe it is. But I honestly don't feel like it is to use as an excuse. I'm definitely past where I've been in innings. But I don't think I'm tired, and so far it has been pretty good all around.”
Shut it down?
Judging by the way he pitched in Thursday night's 14-3 loss to the Indians, it might be wise for John Danks to shut it down for the rest of the season.
In August of 2012, the White Sox' left-handed starter had shoulder surgery. The full recovery time is 18 months, so Danks should be 100 percent by spring training.
But after allowing 7 runs (6 earned) on 9 hits and 3 walks in 4 innings against Cleveland, Danks (4-13) said he wants to try finishing out the current season as strong as possible.
“The best thing for me and hopefully the team is for me to go out there and make every start and throw as many innings as I can,” Danks said. “Try to build up into the off-season and be ready for next year. I'm not looking ahead to next year at this point. I know there's still work to be done.”
The Sox are playing out the schedule with a six-man rotation, and manager Robin Ventura expects Danks to make his final two starts of the season.
“Watching him, nothing looks physically wrong with him so right now I'd just rather have him pitch,” Ventura said. “He hasn't said anything about hitting a wall. (Thursday) night is one you just get by quickly. That's not the pitcher he is. We've seen him have a nice run pitching well.”