Chicago White Sox shutout by Texas Rangers, 12-0
Apr 18, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Felipe Paulino (55) throws the ball against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Friday night it was the starting pitching which let the Chicago White Sox, though the offense wasn’t much help either, losing to the Texas Rangers, 12-0.
If Felipe Paulino gets another start with the White Sox when his turn comes around next, I’d be surprised.
When a pitcher is left in a game to allow 10 earned runs on 13 hits in 3.2 innings, well, that isn’t smart baseball, and that is even more, not the best of pitching either.
How Paulino ever made the roster out of spring training is beyond me. Coming off his year-long recovery, it makes me wonder if he was ready to return to the Majors in the first place.
Apr 18, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter Alex Rios (51) slides home under the tag by Chicago White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers (21) during the third inning of a baseball game at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Something has to change with this pitching — starters and relievers — because no matter how early this season is, every win will eventually matter at some point. If this keeps up (three consecutive losses), then the season will be over before we realize it sometime in June.
The game was over before the end of the fourth innings, with the White Sox trailing, 10-0.
Texas had a two-run first, followed with a seven-run third and one more run in the fourth for the double-digit lead.
The Rangers finished the game with 12 runs and 18 hits.
Paulino’s ERA now stands at 11.29, falling to 0-2 in four starts. In those starts, he’s failed to get past (or through) the fifth innings, allowing no fewer than six hits. In his last three starts, he’s allowed 22 earned runs and walked 10.
The White Sox need to win every game possible to compete in the AL Central, and that type of performance is just not going to cut it.
But the offense of the White Sox isn’t off the hook, either.
Three hits?
Just three hits, really?
Where has this offensive firepower gone lately? Did they forget to put their bats on the plane to Arlington? Because they sure didn’t use them in Friday’s loss.
Yes, again, I know it is early in the season, but three hits in a game, when at one time everyone was hitting the cover off the ball, just doesn’t add up to consistent success.
Maybe they are facing better pitching now, or maybe the White Sox were overachieving early on this season, but either way you look at it … bad pitching and bad hitting equals a bad baseball game. That is what we all watched (or listened to) on Friday.
Other White Sox facts/thoughts
• Why am I so grumpy following this loss? It is just the 17th game of the season, but losing 12-0 can just make a person a bit irritable sometimes.
• One positive was that Alexei Ramirez extended his season-opening hitting streak to 17 games.
• Lecuy Garcia has the lone extra base hit for the White Sox, a double.
• The White Sox were 0-for-4 with RISP, leaving four runners stranded.
• At least the bullpen didn’t implode this game. (Gotta make a joke sometimes, right?)
• The Rangers had 12 RBIs to go with their 18 hits. Former White Sox Alex Rios was 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs.
• Something has to change with this team and quick. Yes, there are still 145 games left this season, but this pitching is just not very good as a whole.
• Six White Sox batters went either 0-for-3 or 0-for-4 at the plate.
• That is all I have for this evening … tomorrow is a new game, and hopefully a new outcome.
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