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White Sox show some fight in ninth but fall short

White Sox manager Robin Ventura weighed in big after Sunday's lethargic 5-1 loss to the last-place Diamondbacks at U.S. Cellular Field.

During his first two years in the dugout, Ventura would often get angry but stay composed in front of the media. Not Sunday, when he somewhat shockingly dropped two "stunk," an "uninspired" and accused every player expect fill-in starting pitcher Hector Noesi of failing to show up.

It was a very brief postgame press session, but Ventura's curt words spoke volumes. And the Sox' manager had a little more to say on the topic before Monday night's game at Oakland.

As for the game itself, the White Sox looked flat again through eight innings and trailed 5-1.

But the bats finally came to life in the ninth, with Jose Abreu hitting a solo home run, Alexei Ramirez delivering an RBI single and pinch hitter Paul Konerko adding a sacrifice fly.

That was a good sign, but not enough in a 5-4 loss.

With Ramirez on second base, pinch hitter Tyler Flowers and Leury Garcia struck out to end it, running the Sox' losing streak to three.

On Sunday, Arizona starter Chase Anderson made his major-league debut and, along with four relievers, managed to shut the Sox down on 4 hits.

The lethargic loss also featured more poor defensive play in the outfield, this time by Alejandro De Aza in center, and another baserunning error, this time when Abreu and his bad left ankle paid the predictable price trying to stretch a single into a double.

Flowers and Konerko (who only appeared as a pinch hitter) gave credit to Anderson for pitching a good first game, but Ventura was sticking to his guns the next day.

"It has nothing to do with that," Ventura told reporters in Oakland. "I can tell the way we are by the way it is in our dugout. You can either give in to it or you can try and change it. And I didn't think anybody tried to change it."

Clearly, Ventura was trying to slam the brakes on another extended slide that occurred so frequently in 2013.

Worth noting:

On the disabled list since April 18 with a strained flexor muscle, Chris Sale officially has been cleared to make a rehab start with Class AAA Charlotte. He pitches Thursday in Durham.

Sale is likely to make 2 minor-league starts before returning to the rotation when the Sox are back at U.S. Cellular Field on May 22 to play the Yankees.

Center fielder Adam Eaton (hamstring) is set to start his rehab assignment with Charlotte on Wednesday. Eaton hopes to be back in the White Sox' lineup Sunday, at Houston.

Erratic relief pitcher Maikel Cleto, who was designated for assignment Saturday, cleared waivers and is heading to Charlotte. The Knights released left-handed reliever David Purcey and infielder Alex Liddi, and there is speculation that standout second baseman Micah Johnson is going to be promoted from AA Birmingham to Charlotte.

sgregor@dailyherald.com

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