Rookie Hector Santiago still Ventura’s closer
A long flight back home after a disappointing 14-inning loss at Oakland Wednesday did nothing to change Robin Ventura’s mind.
The White Sox manager is sticking with struggling rookie Hector Santiago as his closer.
“You’re going to have some misses here,” Ventura said Thursday. “He’s still coming on in the ninth. It is a tough job. You’re asking a lot of young kids to do difficult things, and you have to be patient with that, too.”
Santiago entered Wednesday’s game against the Athletics with a 4-2 lead in the 14th. After getting the first out, the left-hander gave up 5 straight hits as Oakland rallied for a 5-4 win.
In 7 appearances this season, Santiago has allowed 6 runs on 11 hits (4 home runs) in 6 innings. He’s also blown 2 of 6 save opportunities.
Santiago has not lost his confidence. He just thinks he’s throwing too many strikes.
“I’m usually always trying to get in the strike zone,” Santiago said. “Right now, I’m trying to see if I get out of the zone a little bit. I feel like I’m too much in the zone with all my pitches. I’m getting too much plate. I’m ahead in the count and I’m trying to throw strikes. I have to get somebody to chase something.”
Crain strain:
Jesse Crain had to deal with a strained right oblique muscle in spring training. Now, the Sox’ veteran reliever is sidelined with a strained left oblique.
Crain was working out after pitching at Seattle on Friday when he tweaked the oblique. He hasn’t been able to pitch since suffering the injury.
“It’s frustrating,” Crain said. “I pride myself on being ready every day and working hard to be ready every day.”
Crain threw 20 pitches in the bullpen Thursday and felt the left oblique strain on sliders. He’ll try throwing again Saturday, and could land on the disabled list.
Top prospect suspended:
Andre Rienzo, who has quickly emerged as a top pitching prospect for the White Sox, was suspended 50 games after testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing drug.
Riezno is 3-0 with a 1.08 ERA at Class A Winston-Salem, and his 31 strikeouts top the Carolina League.
“I want to make it clear to Major-League Baseball and the Chicago White Sox that I have never intentionally taken a prohibited substance,” Rienzo said in a statement. “Unfortunately, during the off-season, I used a dietary supplement that I purchased at a health food store in my home country of Brazil, believing it to be legitimate. It is now apparent that the supplement was tainted.”