The Chicago White Sox scratched Adrian Houser from Wednesday’s scheduled start.
It was done with the trade deadline in mind.
The Sox played their final game before Thursday’s trade deadline, crushing the Philadelphia Phillies 9-3 in front of 12,718 at Rate Field.
Lenyn Sosa, who replaced Chase Meidroth after the second baseman was hit by a pitch on the right thumb, put the Sox ahead in the seventh with an RBI single to right. The Sox strung together seven consecutive hits while scoring seven runs in the inning, which included three-run home runs by Miguel Vargas and Edgar Quero.
“I thought all day these guys took really good at-bats,” manager Will Venable said. “I thought we hit a lot of hard balls against (Phillies starter Taijuan) Walker there and it finally paid off for us. And to string those together, that’s a total group effort, a nine-on-one attack.”
After a 3-hour, 35-minute rain delay, the Sox hit four home runs to take two of three in the series.
Some familiar faces could be in new locations by the time the Sox return to action Friday against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif. They made one move Wednesday, trading outfielder Austin Slater to the New York Yankees.
Houser has been the team’s top starter since signing a one-year deal May 20. The right-hander is 6-2 with a 2.10 ERA in 11 starts.
That has led to his name being mentioned in trade speculation. The deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday.
“With Houser, we were transparent with him, just the market around him and the potential for a trade,” Venable said before the game. “Just thought it was in everyone’s best interest to switch starters today.”
Another possible trade candidate, center fielder Luis Robert Jr., went 3-for-4 on Wednesday with a stolen base. Robert, who struggled at the plate through the first three months of the season, had a productive July. He slashed .353/.441/.549 with three home runs, 11 RBIs and 13 runs.
“Just working and the results have been showing up right now,” Robert said through an interpreter.
The Sox as a whole have shown some power since the break. That continued Wednesday. Kyle Teel hit a solo home run in the second, and Colson Montgomery hit a solo homer to left-center in the fourth that tied the score at 2.
Meidroth was hit by the pitch in the fifth. He remained in the game for the rest of the inning but was replaced by Sosa to begin the sixth. X-rays were negative, according to the Sox, and Meidroth is day to day.
Photos: Chicago White Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-3 following a Rate Field rain delay
The Sox collected seven consecutive hits against reliever Max Lazar in the seventh. Josh Rojas doubled but was thrown out at the plate when Mike Tauchman singled to center. Tauchman advanced to second on the throw and scored on Sosa’s single to shallow right field, giving the Sox a 3-2 lead.
Andrew Benintendi singled and Vargas followed with the three-run home run, extending the lead to 6-2. Teel and Robert followed with singles and Lazar was replaced.
“Hits are contagious,” Teel said. “So it’s fun to string one after the other.”
With two outs, Quero hit his three-run home run against Seth Johnson.
The home runs by Teel, Montgomery and Quero marked the first time three Sox rookies homered in the same game since Sept. 26, 2004, when Joe Borchard, Ross Gload and Wilson Valdez accomplished the feat.
“It feels amazing,” Teel said. “There’s so much talent on this team, and to be able to positively impact this game is important to me and it’s important to the guys. So it’s a great feeling.”
Benintendi made a leaping catch at the left-field wall to rob Bryce Harper of a possible three-run home run in the eighth.
Sox pitcher Mike Vasil, who followed starter Tyler Alexander, allowed three hits and struck out four in four scoreless innings for the victory.
“Alexander (who allowed two runs in 3 1/3 innings) just continues to go right at hitters and is able to use his fastball and his off-speed stuff very well,” Venable said. “Vasil, the same thing. Some really good curveballs tonight, which we’ve seen. Those guys, just can’t say enough about how important they’ve been to us.”
The Sox are 40-69, one win shy of their victory total last season, when they set the modern-day MLB record with 121 losses.
They are off Thursday, and time will tell if it’s a busy day in terms of trades.
“I just try to not think about it,” Robert said of the possible trade interest.
