Chicago White Sox continue to show inconsistency; lose finale to Rockies
Apr 9, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Erik Johnson (45) fields a ground ball during the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Less than 24 hours after scoring 15 runs on 19 hits, the Chicago White Sox showed the inconsistency that any young team will show, dropping their series finale to the Colorado Rockies, 10-4 Wednesday.
The White Sox are 2-5 in their past seven games since winning the first two games of the 2014 season.
In their series against the Rockies, Chicago was outscored 21-20, but lost game one by seven runs (8-1) and game three by six runs (10-4). In their win during the second game of the series on Tuesday, the White Sox won by 12 runs.
The loss drops Chicago to 4-5 on the season.
Again, the biggest problem this season when Chris Sale or Jose Quintana aren’t on the mound is their pitching, and on Wednesday, it was both the starting pitching and the relievers who didn’t get the job done.
White Sox pitching allowed 16 hits on Wednesday, including starter Erik Johnson allowing nine of those 16 hits in 5.2 innings pitched. Johnson didn’t earn the loss (a no-decision) as he allowed four earned runs on those nine hits and one walk.
Johnson’s ERA stands at 9.58 in two starts with no decisions.
Maikel Cleto was one of the bright spots of the bullpen, going 1.1 innings of relief in place of Johnson, allowing no runs on no hits and one walk. He struck out three.
Then the inconsistency struck again with Scott Downs (0-1). Downs, who was charged with the loss, didn’t record an out, facing just one batter in the eighth inning. In his one batter, faced, he gave up an earned run on one hit.
The inconsistency then became a constant for the White Sox, with Ronald Belisario allowing five earned runs on five hits and no walks in 0.1 innings on the mound. For the season, Belisario has allowed seven earned runs in 4.0 innings pitched (five appearances).
Belisario hasn’t reechoed a strikeout since April 2, with two on the season. Let’s hope it was just back stiffness that caused this type of outing for the White Sox reliever.
Jake Petricka, who replaced Nate Jones on the roster when he went on the 15-day DL, stopped the bleeding with 0.2 innings in relief, giving up just one hit.
I’m no pitching expert or roster coordinator, but the White Sox better be thinking about a “Plan B” with the pitching of this team, or it could be another long season not matter how much energy they show. It is early, I know, but this can’t become habit-forming, right?
Other thoughts/facts about the game:
• The White Sox left five on the bases Wednesday, going 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
• Of the eight hits by Chicago, Adam Eaton and Jose Abreu combined for four of them. Eaton also had an RBI. These two have been great additions to the roster so far in ’14.
• Tyler Flowers had another RBI and hit, continuing to show improvement from one year ago.
• Conor Gillaspie finished with to RBIs … he’s starting to live up to his potential.
• I keep telling myself it is early with the pitching, but c’mon … this is the majors. This can’t continue to happen. Every win and loss means the same, so why not get as many as they can in April.
• Paul Konerko was 0-for-1 in his pinch hit appearance. For the season, he is 1-for-7 in five appearances with one RBI.
• It is now time for the White Sox to return home for a four-game series with the Cleveland Indians. Not sure how well this will turn out for the home team. Hopefully the pitching inconsistencies stayed in Colorado.
• Let’s all hope the report on Avisail Garcia Thursday will be a good one following his shoulder injury. The White Sox need him on the field.
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