Chicago White Sox snap 5-game losing streak
Taking a look at the Chicago White Sox's five-game losing streak heading into Tuesday night's game at Seattle, starting pitching was not the problem.
James Shields was outstanding during a 2-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves in the final game before the all-star break.
Opening the second half, Miguel Gonzalez and Shields pitched good enough to win in starts against the Angels, but the Sox's offense was shut out in both games.
Filling in for Carlos Rodon in Sunday's final game against Los Angeles, Jacob Turner didn't give the White Sox much of a chance in an 8-1 loss.
Chris Sale was brilliant Monday night in his first trip to the mound after starting for the American League in the All-Star Game, allowing 1 hit over 8 shutout innings against the Mariners.
Sale was at 100 pitches after 8 innings, but hit two Seattle hitters in the seventh and walked two in the eighth.
That was the main reason manager Robin Ventura called on David Robertson to pitch the ninth with a 3-0 lead.
The decision backfired. With two outs, Robertson gave up an RBI single to Kyle Seager and pinch hitter Adam Lind lifted the Mariners to a stunning 4-3 victory with a 3-run homer off Robertson.
"We figured he was rested," Ventura said of Robertson, who sat out the last three games of the first half with a leg strain. "I don't think it was rust. That stuff happens. It's a tough job and it's pass or fail and (Monday) night it didn't go our way."
The White Sox's offense was awful during the five-game slide, scoring 4 total runs.
Robertson didn't do his job Monday, but the Sox's other all-star starting pitcher - Jose Quintana - was sharp Tuesday night in a 6-1 win over the Mariners. Quintana (8-8) helped stop the White Sox's losing streak, pitching 6 innings and allowing 1 run on 6 hits.
Brett Lawrie put the Sox in front with a solo home run off Seattle starter Wade Miley in the second inning. Melky Cabrera added a solo homer in the seventh and Todd Frazier hit a 2-run shot in the ninth.
Quintana, who made his first trip to the All-Star Game last week, struck out five in the first two innings.
Monday night's loss was tough for a White Sox team struggling to stay in playoff contention, and it was reminiscent of an 8-7 loss at Kansas City on May 28.
With the Sox leading 7-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, the Royals scored 7 runs off Robertson and Tommy Kahnle to win it.
"Any time you lose that way, it's hard, it's gut wrenching, all that kind of stuff," Ventura said of Monday's loss. "There's another game today. We've been in the lows of the low and found our way back and played pretty good baseball. Continue to grind, that's all you can do."