Sox end April with a thud

Not a good month for the White Sox.

April mercifully ended Monday night with a 10-6 loss at Texas. Throughout the opening 30 days of the season, the Sox were plagued by a lack of hitting — clutch or otherwise — sloppy defense and a rash of injuries.

All three trouble spots were factors against the Rangers to start an eight-game road trip.

Facing Texas ace Yu Darvish, who established himself as a Cy Young candidate in April, the White Sox jumped out to a good start with 2 runs on 4 hits in the first inning.

Alexei Ramirez had a chance to break it open early with runners on second and third with two outs, but he struck out.

The White Sox, who came in with the American League’s lowest batting average with runners in scoring position (.188), were 2-for-10 against Texas.

The Sox’ poor defense came into play in the fifth inning when the Rangers took a 4-2 lead against starter Jose Quintana with the help of errors by second baseman Tyler Greene and left fielder Alejandro De Aza.

The White Sox did manage to score 4 runs in 6 innings off Darvish, and Dewyane Wise’s first home run of the season, a 2-run shot on a hanging curveball, tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, it all fell apart for the White Sox.

Relievers Matt Lindstrom, Donnie Veal and Nate Jones could not keep the game even. Jones was particularly ineffective, throwing a pair of wild pitches that allowed runs to score as the Rangers blew the game open with 6 runs on 4 hits in the sixth.

Before the game, center fielder Jordan Danks was scratched with bursa sac inflammation behind his right knee. Danks was injured running into the fence Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field against Tampa Bay.

Wise got the start in center and broke out of a season-long slump by going 4-for-4.

Manager Robin Ventura told reporters Danks’ injury is not serious.

“It was one of those decisions that we’d rather have him available off the bench than start him and have to take him out after a couple of innings,” Ventura said.

Jeff Keppinger missed his fourth straight game with back spasms, but Ventura said he could play against Texas on Wednesday or Thursday.

Rangers catcher A.J. Pierzynski was not able to play against his former team due to an oblique injury and he’s doubtful for the rest of the series.

“Obviously, I want to play,” Pierzynski told reporters. “It’s killing me not to play, especially for this series.”

sgregor@dailyherald.com