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Bad inning costs Lopez, Chicago White Sox in 8-4 loss to Yankees

Are the Chicago White Sox better than last year?

Without a doubt, especially when you recall the Sox lost 100 games for the first time since 1970.

The White Sox got back to the .500 mark at 34-34 after rolling over the Yankees 10-2 Friday night, and the confidence was running high.

"We are going to keep pushing, and we are going to try get a spot in the playoffs," rookie left fielder Eloy Jimenez said.

There's nothing wrong with setting high goals, but good teams generally have starting rotations to match.

While the Sox do have an emerging ace in Lucas Giolito, there are a lot of question marks and injured arms after that.

Reynaldo Lopez is in the first camp.

Entering Saturday's start against New York with the second-highest ERA (6.21) in baseball - only rotation mate Ivan Nova was higher at 6.28 - Lopez had another rough outing in the White Sox's 8-4 loss to New York at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The game was delayed 30 minutes by rain. In 6 innings, Lopez allowed 5 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks. That raised the right-hander's ERA to 6.31.

Lopez had a 3.91 ERA last year, his first full season in the majors. He wasn't down after his outing against the Yankees.

"I felt good," Lopez said through a translator. "I think it was just one bad inning. I don't know how (Gleyber) Torres hit that homer. That was a good pitch, a good changeup."

In New York's 4-run fourth inning, Torres hit a 2-run homer off Lopez. The Yankees built their lead to 7-0 before the Sox rallied for 4 in the eighth inning, sparked by James McCann's 3-run homer.

"They continued to play," manager Rick Renteria said. "They don't give up."

Renteria had similar sentiments about Lopez.

"Again, the numbers didn't look good," Renteria said. "Yeah, we lost the ballgame, but there's hope for this young man. He's going to be pretty good. Our patience and his patience to get over the hump are going to be very very important. I'm not giving up on him."

Moncada update:

Yoan Moncada missed his fourth straight game Saturday with upper-back stiffness, but the Sox's third baseman is close to returning.

"He's doing very, very well and the reports today were obviously optimistic," Rick Renteria said. "We certainly hope to get him in the lineup tomorrow."

Roster opening:

The Cleveland Indians claimed minor-league pitcher Jordan Stephens off waivers from the Sox on Saturday.

In 10 games (7 starts) with Class AAA Charlotte this season, Stephens was 3-4 with an 8.60 ERA.

The White Sox's 40-man roster now stands at 39.

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