WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF MAY 15, 2017 Robertson, Frazier share Jeter memories Scott Merkin, MLB.com Shields expected to resume throwing Monday Scott Merkin, MLB.com Todd Frazier showed off his baseball smarts by scoring on a bunt popped up on the infield Michael Clair and Scott Merkin, MLB.com In My Words: Avisail benefits from changes Avisail Garcia, Special to MLB.com Melky's pinch-hit single sparks big rally in win Scott Merkin and Sarah Trotto, MLB.com Crazy eights: Sox erupt in wild eighth inning Vinnie Duber, CSN Chicago 'Really No Update Right Now' for Injured James Shields, But He'll Throw Monday in Anaheim Vinnie Duber, CSN Chicago With Fewest Walks in Baseball, Are More Bases on Balls to Come for White Sox? Vinnie Duber, CSN Chicago White Sox Score Eight Times in Eighth for Comeback Win Over Padres Vinnie Duber, CSN Chicago White Sox Option Cody Asche to Triple-A, Addition of Pitcher Not Yoan Moncada Coming Monday Vinnie Duber, CSN Chicago White Sox pitcher James Shields scheduled to throw Monday Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune Eight-run 8th inning more than enough for White Sox in 9-3 win over Padres Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune Frazier s mad dash home on pop-up bunt part of crazy 8th in Sox win Toni Ginnetti, Chicago Sun-Times Sox begin West Coast swing in Anaheim, which is no trip to Disney Toni Ginnetti, Chicago Sun-Times Frustrated Shields eager to return to Chicago White Sox" Scot Gregor, Daily Herald White Sox erupt for 8 runs in eighth, roll over Padres Scot Gregor, Daily Herald Cabrera keys rally as White Sox top Padres 9-3 Associated Press With Jose Quintana, White Sox Remain A Popular Call On Trade Market Bruce Levine, CBS Chicago Robertson, Frazier share Jeter memories Right-hander played with the captain during his farewell season By Scott Merkin / MLB.com May 14, 2017 CHICAGO -- David Robertson's last year with the Yankees in 2014 also happened to be Derek Jeter's last season in the Bronx. The two played together from 2008-14, and Robertson knows how deserving the captain is to have his jersey No. 2 retired on Sunday night in the Bronx. "He was a great teammate," Robertson said. "I mean, from the first time I met him until the last time I saw him on the field, he was exceptional just to me and everyone around him. He took the game very seriously. He played real hard for so long and if anyone is worthy of having their number retired, it's Derek. "We had a few good years in there. I can't imagine what it was like before when I got there. I was there for six years but he had already won four times. That is amazing. Just always level. He never changed. That's what made him who he was." Todd Frazier was a standout on the 1998 Toms River Little League team claiming a championship over Japan. His New Jersey-based squad had the chance to go to Yankee Stadium to be honored that same season, producing a memorable picture of a young Frazier standing next to Jeter on the field. That framed picture currently sits in Frazier's garage, with a place on the wall reserved in his bar area when it's completed in the offseason. Frazier also took part in Jeter's final All-Star Game. "You don't hear anything bad about him," said Frazier of Jeter, who finished with 3,465 hits and five World Series titles over 20 seasons. "You think about it, Major League baseball player ends up now getting married and having a kid, he's living his life the right way. Very fortunate and very blessed. He played the game the right way.
"Glad to call him a friend. Just a happy-go-lucky guy. I think he said he wasn't afraid to fail and that's the biggest thing." Shields expected to resume throwing Monday By Scott Merkin / MLB.com May 14, 2017 CHICAGO -- Since going on the disabled list retroactive to April 18 with a strained right lat, James Shields refers to himself as the "No. 1 cheerleader in the clubhouse." "I've got the pompoms out right now," said a smiling Shields Sunday morning in an upbeat White Sox clubhouse. But Shields could be taking a small step toward returning to the mound when he throws Monday afternoon in Anaheim, where the White Sox begin a 10-game West Coast trip. The right-hander was shut down from throwing in Kansas City at the start of May when the injury wasn't quite responding. "We're just taking the process. They wanted to give me 12 to 15 days of 'no throw' and kind of just let this thing heal on its own," Shields said. "There's nothing you can really do about it but wait. "It's kind of frustrating. You want to do some treatments and that stuff, but I understand the process and we're just going to keep going. I feel great. The only time I've felt it, it's kind of weird, when I'm throwing, when I'm kind of getting after it a bit. "Right now, I've done everything I possibly can, doing really good workouts, getting this thing as strong as I possibly can get it," Shields said. "Body feels great right now, so we'll see how it goes tomorrow." This first trip to the disabled list from Shields' 12-year-career -- which has been filled with success and durability -- has allowed him to play more of a mentor role with some of the younger pitchers. As an example, Shields praised rookie Dylan Covey on Sunday for becoming a big leaguer on Saturday night via his nine-strikeout effort against the Padres. "I'm just another set of eyes for some of the pitching staff, helping them in between games as much as I possibly can and just giving them some advice and just cheering these guys on," said Shields, who has a 1.62 ERA over 16 2/3 innings. "We just came off a six-game losing streak last night, and the crazy thing is these guys are grinding, one through nine. "When you're not pitching, you realize some things that you don't look at while you're pitching. These guys are doing a phenomenal job of working hard in between games, and hopefully we keep going." Todd Frazier showed off his baseball smarts by scoring on a bunt popped up on the infield By Michael Clair and Scott Merkin / MLB.com May 15, 2017 You likely don't picture a speedster when you think of Todd Frazier. After all, with his gruff voice, love of wrestling and penchant for smashing home runs, he fits the image of a quintessential hulking slugger. You'd be wrong, though. Though he's not going to top any stolen-base leaderboards or win many footraces, he has a 20/20 season to his name and led the White Sox with 15 stolen bases last year. Frazier showed off those shrewd baserunning skills in the eighth inning of Sunday's 9-3 victory against the Padres. After the White Sox came back from a 3-1 deficit to take the lead, 4-3, Frazier was standing on third base when Tyler Saladino popped a bunt into the air. Wil Myers made the catch and stopped paying attention -- after all, no one runs when the ball is closer to the plate than the runner. Myers thought wrong. Frazier went back to touch third, and with no one paying him any heed, raced for home. description It's a reminder of the ABC's from "Glengarry Glen Ross:" Always Be Completely-aware-of-your-surroundings-at-all-times. Myers told MLB.com's Scott Merkin after the game, "It was just a good read by Frazier right there," the Padres first baseman said. "I felt like I could have been more aware of what was going on and make sure I checked him instead of turning my back to him." As for Frazier, he was more interested in what the run would be categorized as. "I'm just curious if it's a sac fly or not," Frazier said. "Me and [Saladino] were trying to talk, hopefully it is. Just one of those things. You just read what's going on, and you take a chance... I was thinking, 'Back's turned, take a shot,' and he actually flipped the ball up high enough, too, where I could take three or four more steps. It worked out perfect."
Frazier's sprint was also a fitting sequel to the White Sox strange run-scoring abilities from Saturday's 5-4 victory when Jose Abreu scored on three straight wild pitches. In My Words: Avisail benefits from changes By Avisail Garcia / Special to MLB.com May 14, 2017 I changed my diet and lost 20 pounds. I still want to lose 3 or 4 more. Now I eat a lot of chicken and fish. A lot of salad, too. No red meat; that stays with you. And less potatoes and sweets. Before I didn't like that kind of diet, but now I do. I feel better when I eat healthier. I don't feel heavy. I realized if I wanted to get my game to another level, I had to get in better shape. It was something I needed to do. I still will eat some pizza if I haven't had it in a while. I used to have it one night, and then the next two or three nights in a row. I can't do that anymore. It always feels good when you get off to a good start. It's still early, and I want to stay this way all season. Be consistent, that's the most important thing. Every year in baseball, you learn more about the game. The next year, you feel more confident. You have more experience, and you know what's going to happen in certain situations. I realized I needed to slow down the game a little bit. Not try to do too much. When you try to do big things, nothing happens. Slow the game down, and big things can happen. I studied videos of my swing. I'm trying to keep my hands inside more. I want to be more compact, shorter to the ball. Before I was too long with my swing, and it made me hit a lot of ground balls. When you stay inside, even if you're late on a fastball, you still can inside-out the ball, and maybe it's a blooper for a hit. That's what experience does for you. You learn to figure out what's good for you, and what's not. This has been an exciting time for me and my family. My wife, Anakarina, and I are expecting our second child. I kept asking her, "Is it going to be a girl or boy?" She wouldn't tell me. She knew and wanted to keep it a surprise. Then on Opening Day, they played a video on the scoreboard. My daughter Annarella says, "It's a boy." I almost cried. I can't wait to play catch, and take him with me to the locker room. I have been with the White Sox now since 2013. I know baseball is a business, but I'd really like to stay here a long time. I love Chicago. Everything is terrific: Great restaurants, great downtown. And more than anything else, I love my teammates and coaches. I think we have a good thing going here. I haven't always had the results I want, but I'm still young. In life, you're going to have some ups and downs. You try to stay positive and keep working. I'm feeling really good right now. The most important thing is that my family and I are healthy. That's all you can ask for. It's a blessing. Melky's pinch-hit single sparks big rally in win By Scott Merkin and Sarah Trotto / MLB.com May 14, 2017 CHICAGO -- The White Sox rallied for eight runs in the eighth and claimed a 9-3 victory over the Padres Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field, giving them the series win and a second straight victory after six consecutive losses. They scored those eight runs on four hits, while benefitting from five walks and a hit batsman. "We gave one away today. It was a painful loss," Padres manager Andy Green said. "Guys showed a lot of patience and controlled the zone," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "We were able to take advantage of it, in a big way." The Padres were staked to an early lead on Hunter Renfroe's three-run homer in the 7th, breaking up what was otherwise a strong start from Jose Quintana. However, trouble brewed in the eighth. Trailing 3-1, Padres reliever Ryan Buchter walked Yolmer Sanchez and Jose Abreu with one out. The bases were loaded on an error by Luis Sardinas off a routine Avisail Garcia ground out. Buchter
walked Todd Frazier to force in a run, followed by Melky Cabrera pinch-hitting for Matt Davidson and singling home two runs off closer Brandon Maurer, giving the team a 4-3 advantage. They added another run when Tyler Saladino popped up a bunt to first baseman Wil Myers, but Frazier went back to third and tagged up and then raced home when nobody looked him back. "It was just a good read by Frazier right there," Myers said. "I felt like I could have been more aware of what was going on and make sure I checked him instead of turning my back to him." "You just read what's going on, and you take a chance," Frazier said. "I thought it was a good chance to take there. We scored, we were up two runs already with our closer coming in." Jered Weaver once again dominated the White Sox, even though he entered the contest with a 0-4 mark and a 6.81 ERA. The White Sox had lost eight straight games started by Weaver before Sunday. More > Weaver allowed one run in the first inning but that was all the White Sox could produce, as Weaver yielded five hits in six innings and 89 pitches. Quintana finished with a no-decision, yielding three runs on five hits over seven innings, striking out five and walking four. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Momentary advantage: Renfroe's three-run home run in the seventh marked his sixth of the season and first since April 26, giving the Padres a 3-1 lead. He homered into the San Diego bullpen after Yangervis Solarte walked and Austin Hedges singled with no outs. Off the ropes early: Singles from Leury Garcia and Sanchez, who both were using pink bats Sunday, and Abreu getting hit by a pitch left the White Sox with a bases loaded, nobody out situation in the first against Weaver. But in three pitches, the inning was over and the White Sox scored only one run. Garcia hit into a double play on a 1-0 pitch and Frazier grounded out on the next pitch after the double play. QUOTABLE "Walks and defensive breakdowns. It's one of the ugliest half innings I've ever seen in baseball, especially at the Major League level. There's no excuse for so many things that happened out there that inning. Walks are going to happen from time to time, our pitchers are out there battling, but you couple that with the way we played defense. Yeah, it was disgusting baseball." -- Green, about the eight-run eighth inning "Carelessness, shortsightedness, not paying attention to the situation, not getting time out, not recognizing where runners are on the baseball field. No excuse in it. It's a Major League baseball field. This isn't Little League." -- Green, about Frazier scoring from third on the bunt popup to first in the eighth inning "I tried to go away so I missed the spot. That's what happens when you miss the spot." -- Quintana on Renfroe's homer, pointing to an issue with fastball command this season NEITHER A WIN NOR A LOSS Quintana picked up his 60th no-decision in Sunday's contest, the most in the Major Leagues since 2012. He is 2-1 with 2.76 ERA over his last four starts, after going 0-4 with a 6.17 ERA in his first four. UPON FURTHER REVIEW Green challenged Frazier's tag when Myers was called out at third as he tried to advance from first on Hedges' single over right fielder Garcia in the fourth inning on a routine fly ball that Garcia overran. After a review, the call stood. San Diego lost its challenge, and Myers was out on the 8-6-5 play. WHAT'S NEXT Padres: RHP Luis Perdomo (0-0, 4.13 ERA) will try for his first victory in his sixth start as San Diego opens a four-game home series against Milwaukee on Monday. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PT. White Sox: Mike Pelfrey (0-3, 5.21 ERA) goes in search of his first victory as a member of the White Sox, making his fifth start and third on the road. The right-hander is 3-3 with a lifetime 4.26 ERA against the Angels. Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV. Crazy eights: Sox erupt in wild eighth inning By Scott Merkin / MLB.com May 14, 2017
CHICAGO -- The most solid of contact made by the White Sox during an eight-run eighth inning in a 9-3 victory over the Padres Sunday was Todd Frazier's towering bid for a grand slam resulting in the frame's final out. That rally off of San Diego relievers Ryan Buchter, Brandon Maurer and Craig Stammen including five walks, one hit batsman and four hits, with Leury Garcia's double being the only hit that went for extra bases. The 17-18 South Siders clearly took advantage of what was given them. "We gave one away today," Padres manager Andy Green said. "It was a painful loss." "Eight-run eighth, that doesn't happen too often in the game of baseball," Frazier said. "Guys battling. A walk here, a couple knocks here, and away we go. Everybody just battling their butt off, taking really good at-bats and waiting for their pitch. It was a lot of fun." Buchter assisted the comeback for the White Sox by issuing one-out walks to Yolmer Sanchez and Jose Abreu. Avisail Garcia reached on shortstop Luis Sardinas' fielding error, and Frazier walked to force home a run. Melky Cabrera delivered a pinch-hit single in place of Matt Davidson, off of Maurer, to give the White Sox a 4-3 advantage. Tyler Saladino followed with a popped up bunt caught by first baseman Will Myers for the second out. But when Myers turned his back on the play, Frazier moved back to third, tagged up and showed a little risk taking by racing home for the fifth run. "I'm just curious if it's a sac fly or not," Frazier said. "Me and Sally were trying to talk. Hopefully it is. Just one of those things. You just read what's going on, and you take a chance." Fourteen hitters in total came to the plate for the White Sox, who picked up their seventh come-from-behind victory and improved to 2-17 when trailing after seven innings. The '17 Padres won't exactly be confused with the '27 Yankees, but the miscues coming with a youthful rebuild engaged in by San Diego shouldn't take away from the White Sox fight shown Sunday. Jose Quintana finished with his 60th no-decision since '12, ranking No. 1 in the Majors in this dubious category. He has received two runs or less of support in six of his eight starts this season, but even if the offense didn't score for him, it scored big for the team. "Really good comeback and we take the series. That's the most important thing here," Quintana said. "I tried to throw the ball well and get some quick outs. I'm a little frustrated because I didn't [pitch well enough to] get the win, but the most important thing here is the team won." "You've got to think that way. That's what we've got to do," said Frazier of erasing the 3-1 deficit. "And then I came up with a walk, pushed it a little bit, put a little more pressure on him. Then we opened the floodgates with the two-rbi single from Melky. It was a great inning." 'Really No Update Right Now' for Injured James Shields, But He'll Throw Monday in Anaheim By Vinnie Duber / CSN Chicago May 14, 2017 James Shields hasn't pitched for the White Sox since April 18. The veteran starting pitcher has been on the shelf a good deal longer than the 10 days specified in the disabled list's title. His recovery has been slowed by soreness stemming from the strained right lat that sidelined him in the first place, and though Shields will throw for the first time in a long time when the team travels to Southern California on Monday, he said there's really no update to be had when it comes to his health status. "There's really no update right now," Shields said ahead of the White Sox game against the San Diego Padres on Sunday. "They wanted to give me 12 to 15 days of no throw and kind of just let this thing heal on its own. There's nothing you can really do about it but wait. "It's kind of frustrating, you want to do some treatments and that stuff, but I understand the process and we're just going to keep going. I'm going to throw tomorrow for the first time out in Anaheim, and we'll see how it goes." According to Shields, the problem arises only when he throws, which is troubling for a pitcher. Though he's encouraged by how he's feeling otherwise.
"I feel great. The only time I've felt it, it's kind of weird, when I'm throwing, when I'm kind of getting after it a bit," Shields said. "But right now, I've done everything I possibly can, doing really good workouts, getting this thing as strong as I possibly can get it. Body feels great right now, so we'll see how it goes tomorrow." Shields' lengthy stay on the disabled list coupled with Carlos Rodon not pitching at all so far this season for the White Sox Rodon was transferred to the 60-day disabled list earlier this month means the White Sox have been without 40 percent of the starting rotation they projected they'd have before spring training for much of the early portion of this season. The starting rotation's 4.25 ERA heading into Sunday's game ranked 12th out of 15 American League teams. Shields, meanwhile, had been extremely durable throughout his career prior to this season, making 33 or 34 starts in each of the prior nine seasons. He made 31 the year before that stretch started. So what's a rarely injured man to do while sidelined? "I'm the No. 1 cheerleader in the clubhouse, I'll tell you that right now. I've got the pom-poms out right now," Shields said. "It's my job to help these guys out. I'm just another set of eyes for some of the pitching staff, helping them in between games as much as I possibly can and just giving them some advice and just cheering these guys on. "We just came off a six-game losing streak last night, and the crazy thing is these guys are grinding, one through nine. When you're not pitching, you realize some things that you don't look at while you're pitching. These guys are doing a phenomenal job of working hard in between games, and hopefully we keep going." With Fewest Walks in Baseball, Are More Bases on Balls to Come for White Sox? By Vinnie Duber / CSN Chicago May 14, 2017 A lack of hitting in April and May doesn't often generate the same kind of fret among players and managers as it does in a fan base. The White Sox haven't been hitting the cover off the ball this season, but Rick Renteria & Co. are confident the hits and the runs will come. But what about walks? The White Sox entered play Sunday dead last in baseball with just 88 walks in their 34 games. That's nearly half as many as the majors-leading Tampa Bay Rays, who have walked 153 times so far this season. While hitting the ball hasn't gone much better for the South Siders they're third-to-last in baseball with 271 hits and tied for 25th out of 30 big league teams with 137 runs scored could a lack of getting on base in any fashion be a bad sign of things to come? The ball starts jumping off bats when the weather warms up, meaning those hit and run totals could soon jump up, too. But will the White Sox not-so-great.299 on-base percentage (fourth from the bottom in baseball and second worst in the American League) get a boost, too? "It's a good question," Todd Frazier, the team's walks leader, said ahead of Sunday's game against the San Diego Padres. "If you're not getting walks, how are you getting on base? Are you getting hits? How else you get on base? Errors and all that kind of stuff? I think you need walks. You need guys to take some pitches and battle some counts, foul some pitches off, get an eight-, nine-pitch at-bat and end up getting walked. "I think walks are big. It goes to show you've got plate discipline, goes to show you're not swinging out of the strike zone. I think walks are big, but at the end of the day, if you're getting your hits and getting on base, everything will even out." Common thinking is that things even out, as Frazier said. It's a 162-game season, after all, and the White Sox are just past the 20-percent mark. And the White Sox low walk total could just be one of those baseball things. Manager Rick Renteria and infielder Tyler Saladino both said that walks are the result of individual at-bats, not necessarily a indicator of a trend outside of one game. "Walks are a consequence of the at-bat," Renteria said. "They'll come when you're recognizing pitches as well as you want to. So it's a byproduct of a good at-bat.
"You don't work a walk. Hitters go up there to hit. I think the game dictates how aggressive or how passive you might want to be. Obviously you're thinking about getting on base. Whether it's through a hit or a walk, however you do it, I think it's mostly based on you focusing on the strike zone and what you're able to handle. "I think that there are situations that maybe ask for you to get up there and take a pitch because you want to see what that guy's doing or maybe he's getting in a little trouble. Think about it now, he's not anywhere near the plate, let him get himself out, let him get himself in trouble. And then sometimes when that guy's just missing I've talked to guys about this. When a guy's missing around the plate, just missing by just a hair, it's like, 'He's around there, be ready.' So it just depends on your feel of what's going on in the game and the batter and the trust that they have and the confidence they have to do what they need to do." But like the approach can change from at-bat to at-bat within a game, it can also change within the scope of a season. Frazier has had a tough time at the plate this year, coming into Sunday's game with a.189/.292/.344 slash line. So he's changed things up a bit, trying to find another way to get on base while he waits for the hits to start falling. Frazier has 13 walks so far this season. He's on pace to fly by the 53 walks a season he's averaged in his career. "I've got more walks over this first month and a half than I've had in my career," Frazier said. "Trying to change my approach a bit and understand my strike zone. But I'm still not going up there looking for a walk, I'm looking to drive the ball." So while there isn't much clarity to be had on whether more walks are coming for the White Sox, or whether they care if they do, the numbers show that this team is having trouble reaching base. And the more you get on base, the more opportunities to score. If the offensive totals stay low, maybe the rest of the team takes an approach more like Frazier's. "Say you're down every time, sometimes you've got to take that first pitch or that first strike and try and focus from there," Frazier said. "Everybody can hit with one strike, not many can hit with two strikes. "It's a tough balance, but at the same time you're looking for that one pitch in that one area. And if you go away from that which I've done numerous times. Sometimes your mind gets in the way of things. You're like, 'Oh man, I'm ready to launch here.' You never know. "But if you can stay disciplined in your mind going up there looking for one spot and one pitch only it could be a curveball that hit the spot, but that's not the pitch you were looking for. Basically less is more in those situations. Keep one thought in your mind and go from there." White Sox Score Eight Times in Eighth for Comeback Win Over Padres By Vinnie Duber / CSN Chicago May 14, 2017 Crooked numbers don t get more crooked than an eight spot. The White Sox looked doomed after the visiting San Diego Padres took a 3-1 lead with a seventh-inning homer, but the South Siders came through in the late innings for the second straight game, scoring eight times in the eighth inning to come back for a 9-3 win on Mother s Day at Guaranteed Rate Field. Eight-run eighth, that doesn t happen too often in the game of baseball, Todd Frazier said after the game. Guys battling. A walk here, a couple knocks here, and away we go. Everybody just battling their butt off, taking really good at-bats and waiting for their pitch. It was a lot of fun. After more than a week where fun was in short supply, the White Sox now have back-to-back wins in very fun fashion after slogging through a six-game losing streak. Jose Quintana was excellent through six innings but coughed up a narrow 1-0 lead by surrendering a three-run home run to Hunter Renfroe in the seventh. Considering the White Sox ordinarily have difficulty scoring in games Quintana pitches, that looked like it might have been all she wrote. But then came that eighth inning. After back-to-back one-out walks, Avisail Garcia reached on an error by the shortstop to load the bases and Frazier walked to force in a run that made it a one-run ballgame. After a pitching change, Melky Cabrera came through with a pinch-hit single that scored the game-tying and go-ahead runs.
That was all the clutch the White Sox really needed, but they were nowhere near done scoring off the Padres bullpen in the eighth, something they couldn t do against starter Jered Weaver, who allowed one run in the first before five scoreless frames. Tyler Saladino followed Cabrera s big hit by popping up a bunt that was caught by first baseman Wil Myers. But Frazier took advantage of Myers turning his back to home plate and scampered home for the fourth run of the inning. I m just curious if it s a sac fly or not. Me and Sally were trying to talk, hopefully it is, Frazier said. Just one of those things. You just read what s going on, and you take a chance. I thought it was a good chance to take there. We scored, we were up two runs already with our closer coming in. I wasn t thinking that all in my head, but I was thinking, Back s turned, take a shot, and he actually flipped the ball up high enough, too, where I could take three or four more steps. It worked out perfect. Two batters later, Willy Garcia s single made it 6-3. After that, Leury Garcia doubled to make it 8-3. Yolmer Sanchez drove in a final tally with a base hit. When the dust all settled on that eighth inning, the White Sox tagged four different Padres relievers for eight runs, four hits, five walks, an error and a hit batsman. Quintana looked due for another loss, which would have been his sixth of the young season. Instead, he got no decision for the first time in 2017. As usual, the White Sox didn t score much while he was in the game, but at least this time they made up for it with the monster eighth. I think they were responding, manager Rick Renteria said. They wanted to not allow that to be kind of the end of it. They kept battling even after that happened (the seventh-inning home run). They were still talking on the bench and getting ready to continue to battle. And then it opened up in that one particular inning and they just took advantage of it. Quintana finished allowing three runs on five hits and four walks in seven innings of work. Sunday s huge eighth inning combined with Saturday s walk-off winner in the ninth means the White Sox now have a winning streak after that long losing streak. En route to Southern California for the start of a three-city road trip through Anaheim, Seattle and Phoenix, the White Sox have a bit of momentum on their side. Great momentum, Frazier said. We ll take a win any way. So if we would ve won by one run, it wouldn t have mattered. Momentum s right where we need it to be. Going on the long road trip, it helps us out on the flight. We get to listen to some music and enjoy a good flight. White Sox Option Cody Asche to Triple-A, Addition of Pitcher Not Yoan Moncada Coming Monday By Vinnie Duber / CSN Chicago May 14, 2017 The White Sox made a roster move after Sunday afternoon's 9-3 win over the San Diego Padres, optioning infielder Cody Asche to Triple-A Charlotte. A corresponding roster move will be made before Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim. To prevent speculation that the organization's top prospect, Yoan Moncada, could soon make his debut with the team, the White Sox said that the player added to the active roster will be a pitcher. Likely, that will mean an addition to the bullpen. Asche has not had a good start to the 2017 campaign, his first with the White Sox. In 19 games, he posted a gruesome.105/.177/.175 slash line with 21 strikeouts in 62 plate appearances. White Sox pitcher James Shields scheduled to throw Monday Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune May 14, 2017 James Shields greeted all comers into the White Sox clubhouse with a smile and an extended right hand late Saturday night after his team ended its losing streak at six. The injured pitcher's role has been changed to cheerleader since he has been on the disabled list with a strained right lat muscle. Shields said he's scheduled to throw Monday in Anaheim after taking a mandated 12 to 15 days off from throwing.
He hasn't pitched since April 16. "I've got the pompoms out right now," said Shields, who is on the DL for the first time in his 12-year career. "I'm just another set of eyes for some of the pitching staff." Shields is 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA in 16 2/3 innings spanning three starts this season. What a relief: In addition to missing Shields and Carlos Rodon (bursitis) in their starting rotation, the Sox also are down three relievers Nate Jones (right elbow), Zach Putnam (right elbow) and Jake Petricka (right lat). But the bullpen still was second in baseball with a 2.27 ERA entering Sunday's game, when it threw two more scoreless innings. A lot of that has to do with Anthony Swarzak, the only pitcher in baseball with at least 18 innings pitched who hadn't allowed a run going into Sunday. The right-hander has retired 25 of the last 26 batters he has faced and has allowed three hits, two walks and struck out 21 in 18 1/3 innings spanning 14 appearances. Tommy Kahnle has allowed seven hits and two runs (1.38 ERA) and three walks while striking out 25 in 13 innings over 14 appearances. "Not just eating up the innings, getting really big outs and being very effective," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. Minor move: Yoan Moncada isn't coming to the Sox just yet. The team optioned infielder Cody Asche to Triple-A Charlotte after Sunday's game and will make a corresponding move Monday. But a team official said a pitcher will be called up. Asche was batting.105 with a home run and four RBIs. Eight-run 8th inning more than enough for White Sox in 9-3 win over Padres By Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune May 14, 2017 The White Sox ate up every bit of their eight-run eighth inning Sunday. Nobody more than third baseman Todd Frazier, who tagged up and scored the team's fourth run of the inning on Tyler Saladino's bunt popout during the team's 9-3 victory at Guaranteed Rate Field. Frazier nearly made it a 12-run inning, but his would-be grand slam died in the glove of Padres center fielder Manuel Margot on the warning track in right-center, a few feet shy of the fence. "I'm just curious if it's a (sacrifice) fly or not," Frazier said of Saladino's bunt. "Hopefully it is. "You read what's going on and you take a chance. I thought it was a good chance to take. I was thinking, 'Back's turned; take a shot.' It worked out perfect." Padres first baseman Wil Myers pretty much ignored Frazier after he caught the bunt attempt for the second out, turning his back to home plate after Frazier had retreated to his base. Saladino, who dived headfirst into home plate during the ninth inning Saturday to end the Sox's losing streak at six, wasn't credited with an RBI, though, because the ball didn't leave the infield. The Sox's eight-run eighth, matching their season high for runs in an inning, began with two walks and an error to load the bases. It ended after 14 batters, four hits, five walks, an error, a hit batter, six unearned runs and three Padres pitchers. White Sox 9, Padres 3 Photos from the White Sox-Padres game on Sunday, May 14, 2017, at Guaranteed Rate Field. Frazier drove in the first run by virtue of his walk to pull the Sox within 3-2. Pinch hitter Melky Cabrera's two-run single to right brought Frazier to third and Saladino to the plate. A walk to Omar Narvaez was followed by Willy Garcia's RBI single, which was followed by the second pitching change of the inning. Leury Garcia then doubled home two more before Yolmer Sanchez drove him in for the eighth and final run, which could have been more had Frazier gotten a little more of the ball in his last at-bat. "The wind was blowing in the right direction," he said. "I hit it to right-center. It stinks, but that inning helped (me get over it) a lot more."
It also spared starter Jose Quintana his sixth loss of the season. He had no problem with this no-decision the 60th of his career and the most in baseball since 2012, his rookie season. Quintana allowed all three of his runs on one pitch, which Hunter Renfroe barely turned into a three-run homer in the seventh to give the Padres a 3-1 lead. The ball just eluded the glove of a leaping Avisail Garcia and reached the visitors bullpen beyond the wall in right field, right around where Frazier's ball was headed, with one out in the seventh. "Really good comeback," said Quintana, who allowed five hits and four walks while striking out five in seven innings. "We (won) the series; that's the most important thing." Quintana blamed himself for not earning the victory but said he feels much better than he did at the start of the season. The left-hander, who has received two or fewer runs of support in six of his eight starts, is 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA in his last four. He began the season 0-4 with a 6.17 ERA in his first four. Quintana said he "missed my spot" on the Renfroe home run but was satisfied with his performance. "I feel pretty good," he said. "I think I threw a good game today. Keep doing my thing." The Sox feel pretty good, too, after winning consecutive games for just the third time this season. Frazier s mad dash home on pop-up bunt part of crazy 8th in Sox win The biggest hit in the 9-3 victory over the Padres was arguably a pop-up out to first on which Todd Frazier scored from third By Toni Gannetti / Chicago Sun-Times May 14, 2017 A batter doesn t always have to hit it far to hit it effectively. But what a player must do is always keep his head in the game. An eight-run eighth inning in the White Sox 9-3 victory over the Padres on Sunday proved that point. The biggest hit in the inning wasn t a hit at all. It was Tyler Saladino s bunted pop-up to first base that scored Todd Frazier from third. The reason Frazier scored? Padres first baseman Will Myers turned his back to Frazier. It was just one of those things, said Frazier, who had reached with a walk with the bases loaded, driving in the first run of the inning. You read what s going on and take a chance. I was just thinking his back was turned, and he threw the ball [home] high enough. It worked out perfectly. And it led to a perfect ending for the Sox, who came back from a 3-1 deficit to take the interleague series, their first series win since April 28-30 against the Tigers. We ll take a win any way we can, Frazier said of the Sox second consecutive comeback. A night earlier, the winning run came after a walk, sacrifice bunt and RBI single. This time, the big inning featured four walks, a booted ground ball by shortstop Luis Sardinas and Frazier s heads-up baserunning. I think the guys showed a lot of patience controlling the [strike] zone, manager Rick Renteria said of the inning that saw 14 hitters come to the plate. You always want to keep your head up until the play is completely done. You always want to be ready for the next play. The inning came too late to give starter Jose Quintana a win, which went to Michael Ynoa (1-0). But it kept Quintana from a potential hard-luck loss after he made one mistake pitch to Hunter Renfroe in the seventh. Renfroe s three-run homer gave the Padres the lead. Quintana had allowed only four singles to that point.
We took the series, and I think that s the most important thing, Quintana said. Take the series, and we have a good flight [to the West Coast] for the road trip. The most important thing here is the team won. Quintana s 60th career no-decision the most in the majors since 2012 is a frustration his teammates share with him. Man! Frazier said, comparing Quintana to former Reds teammate Bronson Arroyo. But those guys pitch for a long time. What will matter more for the Sox is Quintana continuing his string of four strong starts. He is 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA (eight earned runs in 26 innings) in that span compared to an 0-4 mark and 6.17 ERA in his first four starts. I know I started slow, but now I feel better, he said. I have confidence every time [out]. Sometimes you don t get the results you want, but the best results is the team winning. I can go to bed feeling good. Renteria is just as confident in his left-hander. He doesn t let anything that happens in the past affect him in terms of results, Renteria said. I think his idea, his preparation and his feel for wanting to get after the hitters in terms of his plan, his mindset, is very even keel. I think you see the same guy every single day. When he goes out there, even if the results aren t what you expect, he still goes out there and commands a presence on the mound. Sox begin West Coast swing in Anaheim, which is no trip to Disney The White Sox lost all three games there last season and have lost 11 of the last 12. Since 2012, they ve lost 15 of 19 games there By Toni Ginnetti / Chicago Sun-Times May 14, 2017 How much difference does an hour make? When it comes to traveling west, the difference can be significant. When I was with Cincinnati, it was a three-hour [time] difference, third baseman Todd Frazier said. One hour doesn t seem like much, but I think a two-hour difference is better than three. The Sox first trip west is a 10-game, three-city stretch against the Angels, Mariners and Diamondbacks, who are an early surprise. This is typically a challenging trip. Angel Stadium has been a tough place for the Sox, who lost all three games there last season and have lost 11 of the last 12. Since 2012, they re 4-15 there. It seems we ve had a lot of 10-day road trips, Frazier said. But it s a fun swing. We ll play a bunch of good teams. Winning takes care of everything, so hopefully it s a good trip. Shields set to throw Right-hander James Shields, sidelined since April 21 with a right lat strain, will throw for the first time Monday. I feel great. I ve really just been following the process. They wanted me to go 12 to 14 days with no throwing and let it heal, he said. It s frustrating. You want to throw, but I understand the process. I ll throw [Monday] for the first time and see how it goes. Shields has taken to being the No. 1 cheerleader in the clubhouse while shut down. It s my job to help these guys out, Shields said. I m just another set of eyes, helping give them advice. We just came off a six-game losing streak, and the crazy thing is these guys are grinding. Covey s a big boy now After striking out a career-high nine in his start Saturday, rookie right-hander Dylan Covey became a big-leaguer in Shields eyes. He showed emotion. He attacked hitters. He can build off that, Shields said. Covey gave up a first-pitch home run to Manuel Margot but worked into the fifth inning, leaving with the bases loaded and getting charged with another run. But manager Rick Renteria was pleased with his performance. He was very aggressive in the zone, Renteria said. I thought he was very poised. I don t think he let anything affect him. He stayed really focused and executed pitches. He definitely had a different look to him.
Jeter gems Frazier counts his framed photo with retired Yankees star Derek Jeter at an All-Star Game among his treasured possessions. He played the game the right way, Frazier said of Jeter, whose No. 2 was retired Sunday by the Yankees. I m happy to call him a friend and proud to call him my All-Star teammate in his last All-Star Game. He said once he was never afraid to fail, and that says it all. Roster move After the game Sunday, the Sox optioned infielder Cody Asche to Class AAA Charlotte and will add a pitcher Monday. Asche appeared in 19 games and was hitting.105 (5-for-57). Frustrated Shields eager to return to Chicago White Sox By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald May 14, 2017 When he landed on the disabled list for the first time in his career on April 21 with a strained right lat, Chicago White Sox starter James Shields said the ailment was "very mild" and he anticipated a quick return. More than three weeks later, Shields is still on the DL, his return uncertain. "There's really no update right now," Shields said Sunday. "We're just taking the process. They wanted to give me 12-15 days of no throw and kind of just let this thing heal on its own. There's nothing you can really do about it but wait. It's kind of frustrating, you want to do some treatments and that stuff, but I understand the process and we're just going to keep going." Shields is expected to throw Monday before the Sox open a West Coast road trip against the Angels. "We'll see how it goes," said Shields, 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA in 3 starts. "Right now, I've done everything I possibly can, doing really good workouts, getting this thing as strong as I possibly can get it. Body feels great right now, so we'll see how it goes tomorrow." Covey comes through: In danger of losing his spot in the Sox's rotation after going 0-3 with an 8.28 ERA in his first 5 starts, Dylan Covey bought himself some time Saturday night. After the San Diego Padres' Manuel Margot homered on the first pitch of the game, Covey struck out six of the next seven hitters he faced. A Rule 5 Draft acquisition from Oakland in the off-season, Covey has to stay on the White Sox's 25-man roster the entire season or be offered back to the Athletics. Based on his outing Saturday -- the 25-year-old righty had 9 strikeouts in 4⅓ innings while allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks -- Covey is going to stay put. "I thought he became a big-leaguer last night," said veteran starter James Shields. "He showed emotion out there; he was aggressive, he attacked hitters, and he looked like a big-leaguer. Obviously, he didn't throw more than 4 (innings) and some change, but at the end of the day he pitched really well and he can build off that." Covey grew tired of being a "mediocre" pitcher. "I felt like my last few outings, it was just mediocre pitches," Covey said. "Pitches that didn't have conviction behind them. Hanging breaking balls, stuff like that. I felt like this time, everything was a little bit more sharp and I was able to bury the breaking balls in the dirt." Kopech update: Pitching prospect Michael Kopech had another take-note start for Class AA Birmingham on Sunday. Acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the Chris Sale trade, Kopech pitched 5⅓ innings against Chattanooga and allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks.
The 21-year-old righty also had 9 strikeouts, raising his Southern League total to 51 in 35⅓ innings. White Sox erupt for 8 runs in eighth, roll over Padres By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald May 14, 2017 Heading into Sunday's game, the Chicago White Sox ranked dead last in the major leagues with 88 walks. Manager Rick Renteria is seemingly on top of everything, and that included the elusive base on balls. "I think everything is an approach thing," Renteria said. "It's a combination of making sure that they're having the at-bats they want to have and they're staying in the zone that we want to command as hitters. When they recognize pitches, I think most of it has to do with their confidence level, their trust in what they're doing. "Walks are a consequence of the at-bat. They'll come when you're actually recognizing pitches as well as you want to and it's a byproduct of a good at-bat." With that in mind, the White Sox had a string of great at-bats in their 9-3 interleague victory over the San Diego Padres at Guaranteed Rate Field. Trailing 3-1 heading into the eighth inning, it looked like yet another hard-luck loss for starting pitcher Jose Quintana. "I'm a little frustrated because I didn't get the win," Quintana said after pitching 7 innings and allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks. "But the most important thing here is the team won." With reliever Ryan Buchter on in relief for the Padres in the eighth inning, Yolmer Sanchez walked with one out. Jose Abreu followed with a walk. Avisail Garcia reached on an error to load the bases. Todd Frazier drew another walk to force home Sanchez and the rally officially was on. "I think the guys showed a lot of patience and controlled the (strike) zone," Renteria said. "We were able to take advantage of it, in a big way." Brandon Maurer relieved Buchter and was greeted by pinch hitter Melky Cabrera's 2-run single, which put the Sox in front to stay. "Guys battling," Frazier said. "A walk here, a couple knocks here, and away we go. Everybody just battling their butt off, taking really good at-bats and waiting for their pitch. It was a lot of fun." It was so fun that Frazier scored from third base after he tagged up on Tyler Saladino's bunt attempt that was popped out to San Diego first baseman Wil Myers. When Myers was slow to get the ball back to Maurer, Frazier took off. "You just read what's going on, and you take a chance," Frazier said. "I thought it was a good chance to take there. It worked out perfect." The White Sox sent 14 hitters to the plate in the eighth and erupted for 8 runs on 4 hits, 5 walks, an error and a hit batter. "I think a hitter usually goes up there wanting to strike the ball, and strike the ball well," Renteria said. "But I think they recognized that young man (Buchter) was in a little bit of trouble. That patience showed with them allowing him to continue to throw balls, and the game's telling you at this particular point, 'Let me make him throw a strike.' I think that allowed them to get deep in the counts and it ended up working out for us." After the game, the Sox optioned Cody Asche to Class AAA Charlotte. They are expected to make a corresponding roster move before Monday's game against the Angels, with right-handed relief pitcher Juan Minaya most likely to get the call. In 19 games, Asche batted.105 with 1 home run and 4 RBI. The left-hander struck out 21 times in 57 at-bats. Cabrera keys rally as White Sox top Padres 9-3 By Associated Press May 14, 2017 CHICAGO -- San Diego Padres manager Andy Green said his team gave one away on Sunday. That was just fine with Todd Frazier and the Chicago White Sox.
Frazier's alert baserunning helped spark Chicago's eight-run eighth inning, sending the White Sox to a 9-3 win. After pinch hitter Melky Cabrera's two-run single off Brandon Maurer gave the White Sox a 4-3 lead, Frazier tagged up on Tyler Saladino's popped-up bunt while first baseman Wil Myers held the ball in the infield with his back to home plate. When he finally caught on, Myers threw the ball to the backstop. "It's just one of those things where you kind of read what's going on and you take a chance," Frazier said. "I thought it was a good chance to take. We scored two runs already with our closer coming in." From San Diego's perspective, the play was emblematic of a comeback that should have been shut down before it happened. "Those are painful losses," Green said. "Walks and defensive breakdowns. That's one of the ugliest half-innings I've ever seen in baseball; especially at the major league level. There's no excuse for so many things that happened that inning." The collapse denied Jered Weaver his first win with the Padres after his best outing of the season. Ryan Buchter (2-2) took the loss, walking three batters while recording only one out. Shortstop Luis Sardinas committed an error on a potential double-play ball that could have made it a scoreless inning for the Padres. Instead, the White Sox sent 14 batters to the plate. Willy Garcia, Leury Garcia and Yolmer Sanchez each came up with big hits as the White Sox earned their second straight win after a six-game slide. Weaver (0-4), a three-time All-Star in 11 seasons with the Angels, has struggled since signing with San Diego over the winter. But he pitched six innings of one-run ball against the White Sox. The right-hander is 12-2 with a 1.87 ERA in 16 career starts against Chicago. His season ERA is now 6.05. Jose Quintana was working on a shutout for the White Sox before he got into trouble in the seventh. Yangervis Solarte walked, Austin Hedges singled and Hunter Renfroe drove a high fastball just over the right-field fence for a 3-1 lead. Quintana allowed five hits and walked four in seven innings. Michael Ynoa (1-0) earned the win with a scoreless eighth. TRAINER'S ROOM Padres: RHP Jarred Cosart (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list. Green said Cosart, who has made two starts this season, will work in long relief. San Diego optioned right-handed reliever Kevin Quackenbush to Triple-A El Paso.... OF Allen Cordoba, who homered and recorded his first career three-hit game in Saturday's loss, was out of the lineup with a sore hamstring. White Sox: RHP James Shields (right lat strain) said he will throw Monday in Anaheim for the first time since going on the 10-day disabled list on April 21. "They wanted to give me 12 to 15 days of no throwing and kind of just let this thing heal on its own," Shields said. "There's nothing you can really do about it but wait." Shields is 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA in three starts this season. HELPING OUT After the game, Frazier wondered if his heads-up play would give Saladino a sacrifice fly and an RBI, but it doesn't: A ball has to leave the infield for a sacrifice fly. White Sox manager Rick Renteria praised Frazier for his hustle. "That's instinct for him," Renteria said. "You always have to get ready for the next play and that's an example of it. I hope that's what we're talking about, but you have to give him a lot of credit." ROSTER MOVE The White Sox optioned infielder Cody Asche to Triple-A Charlotte after the game. Asche hit.105 with a homer and four RBI in 18 games with Chicago. The team will make a corresponding move before Monday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. UP NEXT Padres: RHP Luis Perdomo (0-0, 4.13 ERA) opens a four-game home set against Milwaukee on Monday night.