The ever-evolving White Sox rotation may get another new look after Kip Wells was drubbed again in a 9-3 loss to Anaheim on Tuesday at Edison Field.
In the most important start of his brief career, Wells kept spinning in circles and was removed in the fourth after 77 pitches with the Sox trailing 5-0. He yielded five runs on nine hits, three walks and a hit batter in 32/3 innings of work.
In his last four starts, Wells (6-8) has pitched 132/3 innings and allowed 22 earned runs on 27 hits and 14 walks, compiling a 14.49 earned-run average.
“It appears as though he’s not getting away with any mistakes,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “It seems like the league has caught up with him. When he missed his pitches, they were getting a good whack at it.”
The next move is up to Manuel and pitching coach Nardi Contreras, but Wells knows a demotion to the bullpen is likely.
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” he said. “I have to help the team somehow, whether it’s starting or relieving.”
Angels starter Pat Rapp (5-9) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Royce Clayton’s single snapped it. The Sox loaded the bases with no outs in the inning, but managed to score only one run.
Trailing 9-2 in the ninth, Magglio Ordonez hit a solo home run, the 100th of his career. Ordonez hadn’t homered since July 2, but still managed to become the second-fastest player in Sox history to 100, accomplishing it in 585 games to Frank Thomas’ 516 games.
The Sox are 17-17 since July 1 and have lost the last six times they’ve reached the .500 mark, failing to gain any momentum for a late-season pennant push.
“When we hit seven straight, then we’ll kick it up,” Manuel said jokingly.
