MLB Team Report – Chicago White Sox – INSIDE PITCH
The Sox insisted all offseason and into spring training that the strength of the team rested on the shoulders of the pitching staff. Not just the starters, but the bullpen. Well, thus far, the bullpen has lived up to the billing even after Jesse Crain yielded the only run in Friday’s 1-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians.
The starting staff? Not so much. Especially with Jake Peavy and Gavin Floyd having shaky outings against the Washington Nationals, as well as second-year starter Jose Quintana coming off a rough season debut, and flip-flopped in the rotation.
Quintana was pushed out of his original Thursday start for Dylan Axelrod, not only because he allowed five earned runs in just four innings of work against Seattle, but also because manager Robin Ventura wanted the lefty to face a Cleveland team that he was 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA against in three games last season.
And it was a good decision as Quintana shut out the Indians Friday through seven innings, striking out seven and giving up just one hit.
But the big question remained where does John Danks factor in all of this? The lefty was still pitching in extended spring training, with his latest start coming on Tuesday, where he put in six innings of work.
Danks had season-ending shoulder surgery last August, and while he stayed on a schedule with all the other starters throughout the spring, his velocity was way down. Danks usually dances in the 93 mph range, but was in the mid-80s through most of Cactus League play.
According to Ventura, however, his velocity was climbing in his latest outing, sitting around 89 mph. The plan is to let him keep building arm strength and then put him out on a minor-league rehab assignment. There was still no timetable set on a return, however.
Danks will keep going back and forth between Arizona and where the big-league team is, not only because he can work with the medical staff, but because Ventura thinks it’s good for Danks and the team.
“We like seeing him, too,” Ventura said. “He’s a big part of this. He’s a good teammate. It’s good for us, too. It’s good for him to have that on his mind to be able to be part of the team and come up and support.
“He’s a part of this. I’d expect him to be at home some game, depending when he’s pitching.”
THE GAME: Sox lose pitching duel
The Indians only had three hits Friday night, but that was enough to defeat the White Sox 1-0 thanks to Nick Swisher’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Indians starter Justin Masterson went all the way, tossing a five-hit complete game to get the win.
“His ball was moving all over the place,” said White Sox manager Robin Ventura, of Masterson. “Just looking at the swings guys were taking, and at how they were reacting to his stuff. This was as good as I’ve seen him.”
Crain got the loss after Swisher hit his first pitch down the right-field line for a single, scoring Michael Bourn with the game winner.
Chicago starter Jose Quintana and reliever Matt Thornton had combined to hold the Indians scoreless on one hit through the first eight innings. The three Chicago pitchers retired 25 of the first 27 batters they faced.
Cleveland’s only hit in the first eight innings was a two-out double by Michael Brantley in the second inning. The Indians’ only other base runner in that span was Swisher, who got hit by a pitch with two outs in the fourth inning.
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MLB Team Report – Chicago White Sox – NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 4-6
STREAK: Lost four.
NEXT: White Sox (Chris Sale, 1-0, 1.84) at Indians (Zach McAllister, 0-1, 3.00).
PLAYER NOTES:
–LHP Jose Quintana was almost unhittable Friday night, holding Cleveland scoreless on one hit in seven innings, with seven strikeouts and no walks. In four career appearances against the Indians, Quintana has a 0.95 ERA.
–INF Gordon Beckham, who was off to a solid start, was placed on the disabled list Friday with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. Beckham was hitting .306.
–RHP Deunte Heath was recalled from Class AAA Charlotte on Friday. He takes the place on the roster of INF Gordon Beckham, who was placed on the disabled list with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. In two appearances at Charlotte this year, Heath pitched three scoreless innings.
–OF Alex Rios’ single in the first inning Friday extended his hitting streak to 16 games, going back to last season. During his streak, Rios is hitting .443 (27-61), with five home runs and 12 RBI.
–LHP Chris Sale will start Saturday in Progressive Field, which is where he made his first career start a year ago, almost to the day. On April 9, 2012, Sale pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up one run on three hits and got the win in a 4-2 victory over Cleveland. In 14 career appearances vs. the Indians, Sale is 2-0 with a 2.10 ERA.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “The problem is we’re not getting the big hit to drive in a run. But tonight it was all (RHP Justin) Masterson’s doing. He was very good.” — 1B Adam Dunn, after the White Sox’s 1-0 loss to the Indians Friday.
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MLB Team Report – Chicago White Sox – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–2B Gordon Beckham (fractured left hamate bone) could miss up to six weeks after surgery to repair the injury suffered April 9. He was placed on the disabled list April 12, retroactive to April 10.
–LHP John Danks (left shoulder surgery in August 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He will continue pitching in extended spring games. He had a 77-pitch outing April 4 and six-inning outing April 9. He is continuing to try to build strength in the shoulder.
–LHP Leyson Septimo (left shoulder strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He hadn’t pitched in a spring game since March 7.
ROTATION:
LHP Chris Sale
RHP Jake Peavy
RHP Gavin Floyd
LHP Jose Quintana
RHP Dylan Axelrod
BULLPEN:
RHP Addison Reed (closer)
RHP Nate Jones
RHP Jesse Crain
LHP Matt Thornton
RHP Matt Lindstrom
LHP Hector Santiago
LHP Donnie Veal
RHP Deunte Heath
CATCHERS:
Tyler Flowers
Hector Gimenez
INFIELDERS:
1B Paul Konerko
SS Alexei Ramirez
3B Jeff Keppinger
DH Adam Dunn
INF Conor Gillaspie
INF Angel Sanchez
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Dayan Viciedo
CF Alejandro De Aza
RF Alex Rios
OF Dewayne Wise
