Another solid start for Lopez in White Sox's loss to Marlins
When last seen at Guaranteed Rate Field, Reynaldo Lopez made a promise.
"Starting today, you're going to see a different pitcher going forward for the second half of the season," Lopez said through a translator. "What is done is done. There's nothing else that I can do to change what is done. I can do different things to get better and to be a better pitcher, and that's what I'm going to do."
Lopez faced the Tigers on July 4 in his last start before the all-star break. The White Sox's 25-year-old righty allowed 7 runs (6 earned) over 5⅓ innings, jacking his ERA up to 6.34 - the highest in the majors.
Backing up his talk once again Wednesday night, Lopez delivered another strong outing in the Sox's 2-0 home loss to the Marlins.
In his first three starts of the second half - the first two were on the road - Lopez has allowed 4 earned runs in 21 innings. That has lowered his ERA to 5.52.
"The break gave me the right amount of time to get my mind in the right place and focus on the things I needed to do," Lopez said. "My mind is in a better place."
Against Miami, Lopez matched his career high by pitching 8 innings. He allowed 2 runs, both coming on Cesar Puello's homer in the eighth, and had 10 strikeouts.
Showing his sharpened mental focus, Lopez threw 97 pitches and 76 were strikes.
"He threw the ball great," manager Rick Renteria said. "I think you truly see the trust and the confidence in his stuff. There is conviction behind everything he's doing. The last three starts, this is elite."
Obviously missing Tim Anderson and Eloy Jimenez, the White Sox were shut out after scoring just 1 run in a loss to the Marlins Tuesday night.
"We have to find a way to get it done," Renteria said. "We didn't today."
Hostetler promoted:
Nick Hostetler was nearing his fourth anniversary as the White Sox's director of amateur scouting.
His status changed Wednesday when the affable Hostetler was moved up to special assistant to the general manager. In his new role, Hostetler will focus on major-league scouting.
On Hostetler's watch, the Sox's first-round draft choices the last four years were Zack Collins and Zack Burdi (2016), Jake Burger (2017), Nick Madrigal and Andrew Vaughn.
The White Sox announced they "will work quickly" to find Hostetler's replacement.
Injury update:
Out since June 26 with a high right ankle sprain, shortstop Tim Anderson played his first rehab game with Class AAA Charlotte Wednesday night.
Anderson was the Knights' designated hitter and went 3-for-4 with 1 RBI.
"We'll get the nightly reports to see where he's at," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He left here in a really good state of mind, he left here feeling really good physically. Hopefully it won't be an extended rehab but we want to make sure he's good before we get him back. He's a big part of us and we miss him, obviously."
Left fielder Eloy Jimenez has been on the injured list since July 17 with a right ulnar nerve contusion. He was able to hit in the batting cage and throw in the outfield Wednesday.
"I'll talk to (trainer Brian Ball) and the medical staff and see how we'll proceed tomorrow, if it's off from throwing or continued throwing, things of that nature," Renteria said. "I'm sure we'll get to the point where he'll start taking batting practice in earnest but we have to wait to see how he feels."