WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF MAY 25, 2017 Quintana: Location culprit for big-inning woes Scott Merkin, MLB.com Abreu, Leury homers not enough in finale Steve Gilbert & Scott Merkin, MLB.com Shields pleased with arm after 'pen session Scott Merkin, MLB.com Sox welcome Detroit for doubleheader Scott Merkin, MLB.com Jose Quintana rocked as White Sox swept by Diamondbacks Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago Yolmer Sanchez enjoys brief outfield adventure Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago James Shields first bullpen session a success Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago Looks like Jose Quintana has become Spanish for John Danks Steve Rosebloom, Chicago Tribune Jose Quintana trade value in question again after worst start of year Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune Another injury complicates White Sox pitching picture Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune Jose Abreu s monster road trip goes for naught Daryl Van Schowen, Chicago Sun-Times Quintana rocked as D-backs complete series sweep vs. White Sox Daryl Van Schowen, Chicago Sun-Times Chicago White Sox prospect Lopez on a roll at Charlotte Scot Gregor, Daily Herald Quintana: Location culprit for big-inning woes Left-hander says mechanics are still clean, but working to improve execution By Scott Merkin / MLB.com @scottmerkin May 24, 2017 PHOENIX -- Jose Quintana was perfect for the first three innings of the White Sox 8-6 loss to the D-backs on Wednesday afternoon at Chase Field. Nine up, nine down, five strikeouts, and a great deal of uncomfortable swings against the White Sox ace. So what changed over the next 1 1/3 innings, when Quintana yielded eight runs on eight hits? It seemed to be a matter of missed location, especially with the fastball, which has plagued Quintana as he's gone 2-6 with a 4.82 ERA to start the season. "There were a few mistakes we had, but they just took advantage of us," White Sox catcher Kevan Smith said. "In the first three, we took advantage of their aggressiveness, we were down in the zone. And kind of a domino effect a little after that, one after another. Maybe not pitching in the best situations, getting in holes a little." "The ball ran to the middle a couple of times," Quintana said. "That's the reason they hit me hard: my location sometimes, especially in the stretch. I keep working on that. I'm doing better. It was a tough game for me. Bad day, and you know, look ahead and keep going." Arizona's offense deserves credit for inflicting the damage, putting together three straight hits to push home two runs in the fourth after Quintana -- staked to a 2-0 advantage -- retired the first 10. Those hitters maintained their confidence and approach despite the southpaw's early run of excellence. "Explosive," said Arizona manager Torey Lovullo of his offense. "A bunch of guys rallying around a moment to have big innings. I don't think we have the mentality of letting up again. Especially when we smell a little bit of blood." But Quintana has fallen victim to the big inning on a few occasions this season. On Opening Day, the Tigers scored five off Quintana in the second. On April 15, the Twins tagged Quintana for five in the first. A six-run fifth knocked out Quintana on Wednesday, helping the D-backs complete a three-game sweep and drop the White Sox to 3-7 on this road trip. Quintana's mechanics frequently have been described as nearly flawless, allowing him to hit all quadrants of the zone consistently. Quintana talked postgame about feeling good in that area, throwing the ball better than he did at the start of the season. Remember, Quintana is also coming off a one-hitter thrown over eight innings at Seattle in his last start. These struggles remain surprising for one of the game's most consistent starters. With another 20-plus starts still on the docket, they certainly don't define him.
"Certain pitches do stuff maybe he doesn't want them to do," Smith said. "We're trying to throw outside sinkers to righties, and they're cutting back over. Those are all things for him to iron out with [White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper], and I'm there for him. We all hate to see him struggle." "He's a hard worker and we all know how talented he is and we're all confident in him," said White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu through interpreter Billy Russo. "It's a matter of one thing for him to clean it up and to be that Jose Quintana that we know." Abreu, Leury homers not enough in finale By Steve Gilbert and Scott Merkin / MLB.com May 24th, 2017 PHOENIX -- The D-backs put together a six-run rally in the fifth inning and then held off a persistent White Sox offense for an 8-6 win Wednesday afternoon and a sweep of the three-game series at Chase Field. The D-backs have won three straight and eight of their last nine to go 10 games above.500 for the first time since the 2011 season. "Something special could happen here," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "We're on the right road. We have a long way to go. It's not a time for us to get all soft and cozy." The Sox had jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind the pitching of Jose Quintana, who retired the first 10 batters he faced. Things turned quickly when the D-backs scored two runs in the fourth and then sent 10 men to the plate in the fifth. "He left a couple of pitches out over the plate," said White Sox manager Rick Renteria of Quintana. "He started off OK, and then gave up a few runs." "Just turn the page on this day and just keep working and do my thing and throw the ball where I want, especially fastballs," Quintana said. "That's part of the game and it happens some time. Just turn the page and keep going." Andrew Chafin (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the D-backs, who used reliever Randall Delgado to start the game in place of the injured Taijuan Walker. Nick Ahmed, Chris Owings and Jake Lamb each drove in two runs for Arizona, while Chicago's Jose Abreu finished a triple shy of the cycle. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Lamb hits lefty: Lamb has been dropped to seventh in the batting order against lefties, which have proved to be an Achilles' heel for him this year. His two-run homer off Quintana was just the second of his 13 homers this year to come off a lefty. It was the first homer to a left-handed hitter that Quintana had allowed since Sept. 18, 2016. "I obviously know what's going on," Lamb said of his struggles against lefties. "But at the same time I'm not putting any extra pressure on myself. I'm just happy with where I'm at mentally, I'm in a good spot. The results will come just with more ABs and me continuing to work at it." Double trouble: After the D-backs' six-run inning, the White Sox appeared to be on the verge of getting back in the game when they collected a single, homer and walk to open the sixth. Avisail Garcia, though, grounded into a 5-4-3 double play and the Sox were not able to do any further damage in the inning. Garcia also grounded into a double play that hurt a rally in the fourth. "I can't say I'm surprised," Lamb said of the relievers getting out of jams. "They've been doing it all year." QUOTABLE "I've always said the team is first. I want to thank God for how I've performed through this rough stretch. But it's not something that makes me feel happy because we didn't win as many games as we wanted to win. It's tough." -- Abreu, through interpreter Billy Russo, on matching a career high with four hits but still watching his team finish 3-7 on this road trip SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Abreu has a six-game road hitting streak, going 13-for-28 (.464) with three doubles and three home runs. All 10 of Abreu's home runs have come on the road this season. UPON FURTHER REVIEW
Kevan Smith was denied a single with one gone in the fifth when right fielder Owings appeared to make a diving catch. Renteria challenged, and video replay quickly overturned the call and gave Smith a hit. WHAT'S NEXT White Sox: The White Sox have a day off Thursday following the conclusion of a 10-game road trip before starting homestand action Friday with a doubleheader against the Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. CT, with Mike Pelfrey starting Game 2 and the Game 1 starter yet to be announced. D-backs: The D-backs open a four-game series with the Brewers and an 11-game road trip Thursday night at Miller Park at 5:10 p.m. MT. Robbie Ray, who tossed 7 2/3 scoreless innings in his last outing, will get the start for Arizona. Shields pleased with arm after 'pen session Sanchez on OF debut Tuesday: 'A little bit nervous,' but happy with performance By Scott Merkin / MLB.com @scottmerkin May 24th, 2017 PHOENIX -- James Shields threw what he deemed a very successful bullpen session prior to Wednesday's series finale at Chase Field, and he plans to throw another one Friday in Chicago. "It went really well. Threw 30 pitches. All my pitches. With some good effort," Shields said. "Tentatively, I'm going to do almost like a three-inning bullpen [session] on Monday. That's kind of how far I've gotten right now. "Right now, we will act like this is Day 1 and throw a bullpen [session] on Friday and do a game situation style on Monday. But everything feels really good. No pain, and I feel really strong and the ball is coming out good." The White Sox placed Shields on the disabled list retroactive to April 18 with a right lat strain, and the right-hander had a setback that slowed the rehab process down at the start of May when the team was in Kansas City. But that trouble truly felt like history to Shields on Wednesday, who wore a wrap on his right arm and both knees after the session. "I figured I would wrap my whole body after this one. Maybe recover quicker or something," said a smiling Shields. "I can't feel anything [pain-wise] right now. "Just trying to build up arm strength as quickly as possible. Surprisingly, it's back a little bit quicker than I thought. It's actually coming out pretty good." Sanchez covering new ground Yolmer Sanchez didn't have to wait long to see action during his right-field appearance against the D-backs in the sixth inning of a 5-4 loss Tuesday. In fact, Sanchez, a second baseman making his MLB outfield debut, was the recipient of a Jake Lamb first-pitch line drive. "A little bit nervous for the first time, but I was good," Sanchez said. "Just one fly ball." Sanchez entered right field as part of a double-switch bringing David Holmberg to the mound. He takes fly balls in the outfield during pregame work and was ready for the challenge in the National League ballpark. "Everything I can do to help the team, I'm going to be there," Sanchez said. "It was fun. It doesn't matter if it's in the infield or outfield. I'm going to be there." When Sanchez caught the Lamb drive, he could be seen on the White Sox television broadcast celebrating the grab. He also received strong reviews from his teammates. "'You look great out there,'" said Sanchez of his teammates' words of praise. "I look small because the infield is small, but I look good." Sox welcome Detroit for doubleheader By Scott Merkin / MLB.com May 24th, 2017 A few questions still need to be answered in regard to Friday's straight doubleheader between the White Sox and Tigers, with a Game 1 first pitch of 4:10 p.m. CT at Guaranteed Rate Field. Make that a few pitching questions. Left-hander Matthew Boyd will pitch in Game 2 for the Tigers, and right-hander Mike Pelfrey is scheduled to start the second game for the White Sox. But the other two starters are yet to be announced.
Detroit could go with Buck Farmer or Chad Bell. Tyler Danish is scheduled to start Thursday night for Triple-A Charlotte, with Chris Volstad set for Friday, making both of them potential options for the South Siders. David Holmberg, currently working in relief for the White Sox, also could make a spot start in more of a bullpen game. The White Sox returned from a 10-game road trip Wednesday night. They begin a seven-game homestand before starting another three-city excursion. The Tigers are in the midst of an 11-game road trip, taking them to Houston, Chicago and Kansas City. "Everybody likes being home," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "We have been on the road quite a bit. They've handled it as well as anybody. They're not complaining about it." Things to know José Abreu has hit safely in nine of his past 10 games, with three doubles, five home runs and 10 RBIs. Detroit holds a 14-10 edge against the White Sox since the beginning of 2016, but it has a 5-7 record at Guaranteed Rate Field during that stretch and a 2-5 mark over the past seven in Chicago. Jose Quintana rocked as White Sox swept by Diamondbacks By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago May 24, 2017 PHOENIX Jose Quintana looked as if he might be on the way to a second consecutive gem on Wednesday afternoon before it quickly took a turn for the worse. After three perfect frames, Quintana got hit hard in the middle innings and was forced out of the contest. The Arizona Diamondbacks offense awoke from an early slumber against Quintana to complete a sweep of the White Sox, who fell 8-6 in front of 18,002 at Chase Field. The eight earned runs allowed by Quintana are the most he has yielded in a start in two years and raised his earned-run average to 4.82. For us it s also a tough thing to figure because he has been so great in his career, first baseman Jose Abreu said through an interpreter. It s something that we are not accustomed to seeing from him. But he s a hard worker and we all know how talented he is and we re all confident in him. I think it s just a matter of one thing for him to clean it up and to be that Jose Quintana that we know. None of what transpired in the first three innings Wednesday offered any indication of what was to come. The 2016 All- Star pitcher picked up where he d left off on Friday night in Seattle when he combined with David Robertson on a onehitter. Quintana s offspeed pitchers were diving and Diamondbacks hitters had no chance. He induced checked swing after checked swing and racked up five strikeouts in three innings and even made a smooth defensive play on Gregor Blanco s bunt-base hit attempt to start the fourth inning with the White Sox leading 2-0. But then it all went south. Nick Ahmed doubled to left and red-hot Paul Goldschmidt doubled to deep center to make it a 2-1 game before Chris Owings tied it with an RBI single. Things only got worse for Quintana in the fifth inning when he hit the first hitter Brandon Drury with a 1-2 pitch. Quintana then left a 1-0 fastball over the middle and Jake Lamb didn t miss the mistake, driving it the opposite way for a two-run homer and a 4-2 lead. Four batters later, Ahmed doubled in a pair and the rout was on. Goldschmidt s single knocked Quintana from the game. Owings had a sac fly off Anthony Swarzak to score one inherited run and Drury singled in the other to put Arizona ahead by six. Quintana allowed eight hits and struck out seven. The eight runs he allowed were the most he d allowed in a start since the Detroit Tigers tagged him for nine runs on April 19, 2015. It s just execution, manager Rick Renteria said. Most times when guys are being hit around, a lot of it has more to do with executing and location. I think it s more pitches get out over the plate.... Based on the swings, they were pretty good swings, so I m assuming they were pitches out over the plate. The poor outing raised Quintana s earned-run average by nearly a point from 3.92. Even though it s still more than two months until the Aug. 1 nonwaiver trade deadline, Quintana s inconsistent start to the season has also almost certainly harmed his perceived trade value. Not only has Quintana pitched poorly, but shifts in the plans of other clubs could
provide contending teams with more trade options. However, with teams still focused on the upcoming draft and the deadline a way off, Quintana has more than enough time to get back on track. Quintana said he plans to do what he s always done discard the tough outing and move on. It s the same way he has operated since 2012 and it has helped become a highly regarded member of the White Sox. Just turn the page and keep going, Quintana said. It s different feeling than last year. But I feel pretty good. Never think in the past. If you have a bad day, just keep going. Keep doing, we doing good in the past. So, just keep doing my things and throw the ball well. One player who has continued to stay hot for more than a month is Abreu, who blasted his 100th homer on Tuesday night. For an encore, Abreu matched his career high with four hits, including a two-run homer in the sixth inning that got the White Sox to within 8-4. Melky Cabrera had an RBI groundout in the seventh inning and Abreu singled in another to make it an 8-6 game. But the White Sox got no closer. Leury Garcia s solo homer in the second inning gave the White Sox an early lead. Abreu doubled in the fourth and scored on a double play to make it a 2-0 lead. From April 19 on, Abreu is hitting.347/.404/.677 with 10 home runs and 22 RBIs in 136 plate appearances. He s currently on pace for 36 home runs, which would tie the career high he established in 2014. Yolmer Sanchez enjoys brief outfield adventure By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago May 24, 2017 PHOENIX -- Yolmer Sanchez did something Carlos never has on Tuesday night when he set foot in the outfield. The White Sox second baseman took over in right field during Tuesday s loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of a double switch. Sanchez moved to right field to start the sixth inning and was tested as Jake Lamb s fly ball found him immediately. Afterward, Sanchez pumped his first and celebrated his catch. It was the first outfield appearance made by Sanchez in 820 professional games, including the minors and winter ball. It was a good, Sanchez said. I m not an outfielder but it was good. I was nervous when the first hitter fly ball. I was really nervous but after that I feel a little more calm. And looking good. When you play this team there is a chance to double switch. I was ready. It was fun. Everything I can do to help the team I will be there. Infield, outfield, I m going to be there. Sanchez only played one inning in the outfield as Avisail Garcia pinch hit for the pitcher in the top of the eighth and took over. James Shields first bullpen session a success By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago May 24, 2017 PHOENIX -- James Shields first bullpen on Wednesday went so well that he s already scheduled for another on Friday. The White Sox pitcher already has his eyes on the next few steps he ll take, which potentially could include a three-inning simulated game on Monday. On the 10-day disabled list retroactive to April 21 with a lat muscle strain, Shields is very encouraged only three weeks after he was shut down. He s one of several White Sox pitchers who have made good progress of late along with Carlos Rodon, Nate Jones, Jake Petricka and Zach Putnam. I can t feel anything right now, Shields said. Just trying to build up arm strength as quickly as possible. Surprisingly it s back a little bit quicker than I thought. It s actually coming out pretty good. It went really well. Threw 30 pitches. All my pitches. With some good effort.
Shields has gone from frustrated to upbeat over the last 11 days. He began to play catch when the team started it s 10- game road trip and hasn t had a setback. The right-hander and the club are mapping out what Shields will do next based on how he s responding. We are trying to figure that out right now, Shields said. I think tentatively I m going to do almost like a three inning bullpen on Monday. That s kind of how far I ve gotten right now. Everything feels really good. From a physical standpoint, Putnam s first time off a mound was good. He just wasn t as pleased with how he threw on Tuesday night. Putnam, on the DL with right elbow inflammation, had thrown multiple flat-ground bullpens before he moved to the mound for the first time in a month. While he wasn t thrilled with the first effort, he wasn t surprised, either. Even if you have a completely healthy arm, you know a month off the mound and you get back up there, you will have some aches and pains, Putnam said. I m not disappointed. I m not frustrated. I ve got to build up. Having this be the first time in a while, I m not concerned about it at all. It s not a linear process. There s going to be some ups and there will be some downs. If it were just kind of every other day you go throw and you feel a little better than last time, that would be great. I would love that. But it s not always that way. I learned that last year. I m just trying to be cognizant of that as we go forward. Looks like Jose Quintana has become Spanish for John Danks Steve Rosenbloom / Chicago Tribune May 24, 2017 The White Sox continue to lose on the field more 3-7 road trips, please and they continue win in trades and international negotiations. Or, at least, they continue to tie in trades to get the young talent they sought. That s the way you work a rebuild, people. Except for this: Jose Quintana has become Spanish for John Danks. Looks like it, anyway. Quick, someone explain to Quintana what his role in the rebuild is, and it is not eight earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. It is not 16 earned runs in his last four starts. It is not the 73rd-best ERA in the majors and the 57th best xfip rating on Fangraphs.com. No, his role is to be the Quintana over whom contenders start a bidding war. He has to stop stinking. Quintana sat on the runway this winter after the Sox launched Chris Sale and Adam Eaton. Quintana was the next big deal. But no. It never happened. Still hasn t. Might never at least it might never happen in the form everyone imagined when Quintana was viewed as the best rumor available. Sox GM Rick Hahn has said that if he had taken any of the offers for Quintana this winter he would ve been ripped for it, and I believe that. But anything looks better than nothing. I hope it doesn t stay this way, but suddenly, the idea that it s early has turned late. Given baseball s schedule with the draft next month and the non-waiver trade deadline the month after, Quintana pretty much has June to show contenders that he s not last year s James Shields. The Choice (and remember, death is not an option): Jose Quintana s trade year or Jake Arrieta s free-agent season? Joe Maddon declared an Anchorman theme to the Cubs trip to Southern California this weekend. That s what you do when you re kind of a big deal. The "Anchorman'' trip marks Kris Bryant s return to San Diego for the first time since being named NL MVP, which came a season after being named NL Rookie of the Year, which came a season after being named Minor League Player of the Year by several publications, which came a season after being named Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year at ta-da! the University of San Diego. Compelling and rich.
Chris Bosh, the Heat and the NBA players association worked out a divorce that allows Bosh to let another team deal with his potentially life-threatening issues. Bosh turned 33 in March and hasn t played since 2016 because of blood clot problems. Still, he hopes to find a treatment plan that will allow him to return to the floor. Hmm, a former All-Star who ll never see those days again, an erstwhile champion who avoided Chicago in free agency when he was good, an aging player who theoretically would clog the development of young talent, and a whole new set of health issues yep, sounds like a perfect Bulls signing. And worse, signing Bosh might give former Heat teammate Dwyane Wade another reason to stick around. Heralded freshman Hamidou Diallo is withdrawing from the NBA draft and will attend Kentucky this fall. Diallo, who could ve gone from the preps to the pros because of a loophole in the collective bargaining agreement, apparently was advised he wouldn t be a high pick because there wasn t a big enough body of work. He s 6-foot-5, is athletic and has potential, and likely will be a lottery pick the Bulls will never get next year because the franchise apparently loves finishing eighth, losing in the first round and being in the worst possible situation to improve a team that cannot draft and develop enough quality talent to make up for the failure to attract star free agents. Just checking: Is this still Mike Glennon s year? Jose Quintana trade value in question again after worst start of year Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune May 24, 2017 When the White Sox kept left-hander Jose Quintana through spring training instead of dealing him for prospects, the rebuilding club assumed a risk on Quintana's trade value should he become injured or pitch poorly over the first half of the season. Now, just two months and change from the July 31 trade deadline, Quintana's uncharacteristically inconsistent season is making that topic relevant. Quintana followed one of his best outings of the year Friday in Seattle with one of his worst Wednesday in Phoenix in an 8-6 loss to the Diamondbacks. He allowed eight runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings, his shortest outing of the year, as the Sox finished 3-7 on their West Coast trip. It was a strange performance because Quintana started the day with three perfect innings before giving up a homer, three doubles and four singles over his next 1 1/3 innings. Quintana hadn't given up eight runs in a game in more than two years. "For us, it's also a tough thing to figure because he has been so great in his career," teammate Jose Abreu said through a team interpreter. "It's something that we are not accustomed to seeing from him. But he's a hard worker. We all know how talented he is and we're all confident in him. It's just a matter of one thing for him to clean it up and to be that Jose Quintana that we know." After the news leaked that the Sox agreed to sign Cuban outfield prospect Luis Robert over the weekend, general manager Rick Hahn said the club wanted to add more to its rapidly growing prospect base. After the draft, trades of veterans such as Quintana, Todd Frazier, Melky Cabrera, David Robertson, Miguel Gonzalez, Derek Holland and Anthony Swarzak would be the next step. Abreu has heated up, but the Sox might want to keep him around for guidance for fellow Cuban prospects Yoan Moncada and Robert. "We've received a lot of phone calls because of the talent on this roster," Hahn said. "We're remaining very open-minded about whatever opportunities make us better for the long run. Our focus is on doing something that's more sustainable than one season. We're in the same mode we were in this past offseason." Quintana is under control through 2018, with team options through 2020, so the Sox could hold on to him to participate in the rebuild or trade him in the offseason. Either way, they want to get to the bottom of what is shaking his start to the year.
He gave up back-to-back doubles to Nick Ahmed and Paul Goldschmidt to allow the first run in the fourth, and Chris Owings followed with an RBI single. Jake Lamb hit a two-run homer and Ahmed had a two-run single as the Diamondbacks pulled away with a six-run fifth inning. "The change was the ball running a little bit to the middle on the fastball," Quintana said. "I think the location sometimes (is a problem), especially in the stretch.... It was a tough game for me, a bad day, but you look ahead and keep going." Leury Garcia hit his sixth homer in the second, and Abreu added a two-run homer in the sixth. The Sox added a pair of runs in the seventh. Sox manager Rick Renteria said he could foresee Quintana going on a run of strong starts. "That wouldn't be surprising to anybody he comes in and all of the sudden you see four or five really good outings," Renteria said. "We've all seen it before." Another injury complicates White Sox pitching picture Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune May 24, 2017 James Shields had his entire right arm and both knees wrapped Wednesday at Chase Field after his first bullpen session since going on the disabled list. "I figured I would wrap my whole body after this one, maybe recover quicker or something," he joked. The right-handed starter, who is recovering from a right lat strain, threw 30 pitches "with some good effort," using all of his pitches. He expects to throw another bullpen Friday and a simulated three-inning session Monday. "No pain and I feel really strong and the ball is coming out good," Shields said. "I can't feel anything right now, and I'm just trying to build up arm strength as quickly as possible. Surprisingly it's back a little bit quicker than I thought. It's actually coming out pretty good." Beyond Shields and left-hander Carlos Rodon, the White Sox are staring down yet another injury to their rotation after Dylan Covey felt oblique soreness during his start Tuesday night. Sox manager Rick Renteria said the injury is not as bad as originally feared, but there's a possibility Covey could miss his next start. If so, the Sox will need to call up a minor-leaguer or turn to a bullpen arm to fill in Monday or Tuesday. The Sox also need an extra starting pitcher for Friday's doubleheader against the Tigers. Mike Pelfrey is scheduled to pitch Game 2 Friday, and the Sox likely will announce the Game 1 starter Thursday. 100 club: Jose Abreu hit his 100th and 101st career homers Tuesday and Wednesday. His four hits Wednesday tied a career high, and he extended his hitting streak to six games, going 13-for-28 with three doubles and three homers in that span. "I've always said the team is first," Abreu said through a team interpreter. "I want to thank God for how I've performed through this rough stretch. But it's not something that makes me feel happy because we didn't win as many games as we wanted to win. It's tough." Something new: Yolmer Sanchez, standing 5-foot-11, said Wednesday he probably appeared small in the Chase Field outfield on Tuesday night, but his teammates told him he "looked great." Sanchez replaced Willy Garcia in right field as part of a sixth-inning double switch. He had shagged balls in batting practice before but hadn't played a major-league game in the outfield. Naturally, on the first pitch, Jake Lamb hit a fly ball to Sanchez, who made the catch. "When the first hitter (hit the) fly ball, I was really nervous, but after that I feel a little more calm," Sanchez said. "And looking good." Jose Abreu s monster road trip goes for naught Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun Times May 24, 2017 PHOENIX A day after hitting his 100th career home run, a red-hot Jose Abreu hit another home run and had three RBI. But the White Sox were swept by the Diamondbacks and finished the road trip 3-7.
So Abreu wasn t exactly basking in the glow of his time away from home, in which he went 17-for-42 (.405) with five homers, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored in 10 games. It was a very disappointing road trip, Abreu said through interpreter Billy Russo. We as a team are passing through a tough moment, a rough stretch. I m thankful for how I performed, but I can t be happy we didn t win as many games as we want to. It s tough. The team is first. A good step for Shields Pitcher James Shields threw his first bullpen session since going on the disabled list. Another session is planned for Friday. If all goes well, he will pitch a three-inning simulated game Monday. The 34-yearold right-hander is as upbeat as he has been in almost a month. I can t feel anything right now, Shields said. I m just trying to build up arm strength as quickly as possible. Surprisingly, it s back a little bit quicker than I thought. It s actually coming out pretty good. Shields threw 30 pitches, using his entire assortment, he said. Rotation in flux Rookie right-hander Dylan Covey, who left his start in the third inning Tuesday with a strained left oblique, felt a little better, manager Rick Renteria said. While a trip to the disabled list seems possible for Covey, who was limited to six starts for the A s Class AA Midland team last season because of a similar injury, the Sox aren t pressed to make a move now. We ll see how he s doing [Thursday, an off day] and the next day, Renteria said. Right now, from all indications, he s not as bad as we first anticipated, but he s got a little tweak. A Rule 5 draft pick, Covey (0-4) hasn t looked major-league ready. He has an 8.12 ERA and has completed six innings only twice. Renteria said the DL is a possibility, without elaborating too much more. Because of the doubleheader Friday against the Tigers, the Sox can call up a 26th player. Class AAA right-handers Chris Volstad and Tyler Danish and left-handed reliever David Holmberg are possibilities. Right on Yolmer Sanchez on playing the outfield for the first time after entering the game in a double-switch Tuesday: Anything I can do for the team, I will be there. As luck would have it, the first pitch was hit to Sanchez on a routine fly. I was like Ay-yi-yay, but after I catch it, I just throw it in oof, nice, he said. I was really nervous, but after that I feel a little more calm. And looking good. The 5-10 Sanchez noted that he looked smaller in the outfield but said he got nice reviews from teammates. You look great out there, was the reaction, he said. Back at second base Wednesday, Sanchez robbed Paul Goldschmidt of a single with a diving stop. Sanchez also is having an exceptional year at the plate. Quintana rocked as D-backs complete series sweep vs. White Sox Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun Times May 24, 2017 PHOENIX For three innings Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, Jose Quintana looked like an All-Star. But in the fourth and fifth he looked like a wreck.
The White Sox left-hander, who lasted only 4⅓ innings, was pounded for eight runs on eight hits in a 8-6 loss that completed a three-game series sweep. Quintana retired the first 10 hitters, half of them on strikeouts. And then the D-backs went on an 8-for-10 tear. A couple of the hits were soft, and there were no walks, but Quintana couldn t make it stop, and couldn t get through the six-run fifth inning. I think the ball ran to the middle a couple of times, Quintana said. That s the reason they hit me hard. The damage came when Quintana was in the stretch position. Getting better from the stretch is something Quintana knows he needs to improve. He certainly works slower then. I keep working on that, he said. It was a tough game for me. It had to be tough on general manager Rick Hahn as well, knowing the lofty trade value of Quintana a prized commodity in the Sox rebuilding scheme isn t climbing with this kind of performance, although there had been signs of the 2016 All-Star turning things around after an 0-4, 6.17 ERA start in his first four outings. Quintana (2-6) saw his ERA climb from 3.92 to 4.82. He was coming off his best outing, a one-hit performance in eight innings in Seattle and was 2-1 with a 2.38 ERA in his previous five starts before Wednesday. A poster child for consistency and excellence his first five seasons, Quintana has been anything but dependable over his first 10 starts. For us it s a tough thing to figure, because he has been so great in his career, said Jose Abreu, who went 4-for-5 with a two-run home run. A good game, and then have a good stretch in a game and have a bad game, it s something that we are not accustomed to seeing from him. But he s a hard worker and we all know how talented he is and we re all confident in him, Abreu said. I think it s just a matter of one thing for him to clean it up and to be that Jose Quintana that we know. Quintana, who has been plagued by poor run support throughout his career, was staked to a 2-0 lead by Leury Garcia s sixth homer and Abreu s double and run scored (on Avisail Garcia s double play) before the Diamondbacks tied it in the fourth on doubles by Nick Ahmed and Paul Goldschmidt and an RBI single by Chris Owings. In the sixth, Quintana hit leadoff batter Brandon Drury on the hand with an 0-2 pitch before Lamb s homer, and then the hits just kept on coming. What happened? Maybe a lot of things, rookie catcher Kevan Smith said. This team can swing the bat they re aggressive. You can t leave pitches up in the zone or in the middle of the plate. Smith said Quintana took advantage of the Diamondbacks aggressiveness when he pitched down in the zone. And things kind of have a domino effect a little, Smith said. One after another, maybe not pitching in the best situations, getting in holes a little... we re trying to throw sinkers away to righties and they re cutting back over. Those are things for him to iron out with [pitching coach Don Cooper]. Trailing 8-2, the Sox scored two runs in the sixth and seventh innings, and Quintana was still there in the dugout, highfiving teammates and keeping the energy up, Smith said. Abreu (three RBI) hit his 10th homer in the sixth with Melky Cabrera on first. Abreu came up with the tying run in the ninth but grounded out against Fernando Rodney. The Sox (20-25) finished the road trip 3-7. Chicago White Sox prospect Lopez on a roll at Charlotte Scot Gregor / Daily Herald May 24, 2017
It was the Chicago White Sox's first full-squad workout of spring training, and Jacob May was preparing to step into the box to face Reynaldo Lopez in live batting practice. Sitting nearby in a golf cart, Sox vice president Kenny Williams couldn't resist taking a swing of his own. "You're not ready for Lopez," Williams told May with a laugh. "No chance." Williams wasn't knocking May's hitting skills. Rather, he was just sending a friendly warning. A key off-season acquisition from the Washington Nationals in the Adam Eaton trade, Lopez reported to training camp in February determined to immediately prove his worth. Making 5 Cactus League starts for the White Sox, the 23-year-old Lopez allowed 8 earned runs in 19⅓ innings (3.72 ERA) while striking out 14 to go with 5 walks. The right-hander also held opposing hitters to a.197 average. It was an impressive showing, but Lopez and other top prospects such as Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Lucas Giolito and Carson Fulmer all were ticketed for the minor leagues regardless of how they performed in spring training. Lopez wasn't thrilled with being sent to Class AAA Charlotte to begin the season, but it was the smart move for a Sox team looking toward the future. Additionally, Lopez needed more polish. The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder was 1-1 with a 4.87 ERA in his first 4 starts with the Knights. In his last 5 starts with Charlotte, Lopez has gone 5-0 with a 2.20 ERA. For the season, he is fourth in the International League with 50 strikeouts (in 49 innings) and ninth with a 2.94 ERA. Lopez has been happy with the consistency of his fastball and curveball all season. The slider has been coming around and that has elevated Lopez's overall game. "That's a pitch that I try to incorporate into my repertoire," Lopez said through a translator. "I know that's a good pitch if I can command that pitch. I have to have a real sense of that pitch, but besides that I've been trying to command all my pitches, not just the slider. "(The slider) has been effective, but I need to keep my focus on the command of all my pitches because when you try to focus just on one, the other pitches are not going to be as effective as they are supposed to be." It looks like the White Sox are going to need another starter after Dylan Covey exited Tuesday's start against the Diamondbacks with left-oblique soreness. If Covey has to go on the disabled list, Lopez looks like a prime candidate to fill the spot. Then again, the Sox want to avoid plugging their top prospects into roles caused by injury. Lopez is on an obvious roll, but is he ready to join the major-league rotation on a permanent basis? Would the White Sox be willing to potentially burn a year of service time by bringing the right-hander up now? Those are questions that need to be answered soon.