Zavala homers, Abreu moves up on Sox all-time RBI list in White Sox’ 8-4 loss
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — An RBI double that bounced off third base in a three-run first made Dallas Keuchel scratch his head. A handful more ground-ball hits also contributed to six runs in five innings against the White Sox lefty in a 8-4 Rays win Saturday.
Such is the life of the ground ball pitcher. But as Keuchel said, “you gotta do better.”
Keuchel’s ERA climbed to 4.61 on the back of nine Rays hits, and per Statcast, he yielded an average exit velocity of 93.1 mph, third highest for the veteran this season. So the Rays (76-48) were more than lucky. They scored another run in the fourth and were never really threatened by a Sox lineup missing the resting Tim Anderson and Luis Robert.
The bad-bounce double, by Wander Franco, going to be an inning ending force out to third baseman Yoan Moncada. And then Brandon Lowe followed with a well-struck two-run double.
“It’s just kind of the way it’s been going,” Keuchel said. “Just gotta keep making pitches and try to limit damage. It’s tough. Just didn’t really seem to find much luck, or [have it] bounce my way.”
Anderson got an afternoon off from manager La Russa following his heroic, “humongous effort” in the Sox’ 7-5 win in 11 innings Friday night, his second day off in three days.
“He’s so active. His legs get tired,” La Russa said. “And you can play with tired legs, but you lose an edge. Give him the whole day off, and he comes bouncing back with renewed energy.”
Center fielder Luis Robert also sat for the second time in three days and left fielder Eloy Jimenez stayed off the turf as the DH. The Sox are in a seven-day stretch of games on artificial turf.
“Wanted to get [Robert] off his feet today,” La Russa said. “Everybody knows turf is hard on outfielders, so we’ve got a plan for these three games, and then the four in Toronto.”
Rodon return likely Thursday
The Sox list TBA for Thursday’s starter in Toronto but the plan is to activate left-hander Carlos Rodon from the injured list (shoulder fatigue) that day “if he does a couple more things,” La Russa said. If not, Keuchel will start on four days rest. With seven off days in the final 33 on the schedule, all starters will have extra rest heading into the postseason.
Because of elbow and shoulder injuries, Rodon has surpassed 120 innings once in his last five seasons. He’s at 109 2⁄3 now, so extra rest seems like a the smart play.
“The way it’s lined up for when he throws again, he will have [extra] days off pretty much every single outing till the end,” pitching coach Ethan Katz said. “It’s designed well for him and we’re looking forward to maximizing those days and having the best version of him on the mound.’’
Eloy’s DH day
Jimenez has made it clear he doesn’t like to DH, his role for the ninth time Saturday.
“Even if I don’t like it, I have to do it for my team,” he said. “All that matters is wining. It’s not how I feel, how they feel, it’s win right now.”
Jimenez extended his hitting streak to 10 with an RBI single. He also drove in a run on a groundout.
This and that
Jose Abreu drove in a run with a double and single, hiking his AL RBI lead to 92. It was the 763rd RBI of Abreu’s career, moving him past Carlton Fisk into seventh on the Sox’ all-time list.
*Seby Zavala hit his fifth homer against Rays starter Luis Patino for the Sox’ first run.
*Outfielder Billy Hamilton (oblique) started a rehab assignment in Charlotte.
from Chicago Sun-Times - All https://ift.tt/3sC52pc
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