The Chicago White Sox played game No. 100 of this season. Tuesday night of this week in Los Angeles against the Angels in game two of a four-game series. Thursday, July 26 will conclude a seven-game road trip, which opened with three games in Seattle.
The lack of offensive support is not a victimless crime! All too often the victim was been Sox’ veteran starter James Shields.
Friday night in Seattle, Shields was on the short end of a 3-1 decision. The defeat left Shields with a 4-11 record and fodder for the rumor mill that he could be trade bait for more talent in the youth movement.
Shields’ teammates gave him a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning only to allow the Mariners to tie the score on an Adam Engle error. Shields worked seven strong innings and gave up only two runs. The Sox were blanked after the first inning and Seattle ended up a 3-1 victor.
All too often this season, Shields has pitched in games where he has lowered his ERA and yet ended up the losing pitcher. Through Monday’s game in L.A. the Sox’ record was 35-64 following a 5-3 victory over the Angels.
The Sox will return home for a 7:10 p.m. game against Toronto Friday in the start of a six-game series, including Kansas City for three games. The Sox will play to stay ahead of last place Kansas City.
Where is José Abreu? Fresh off his all-star game appearance in which he was hitless in two trips to the plate, Abreu’s struggles might have left him sleepless in Seattle. Abreu, who started at first base for the victorious American League in last week’s all-star game, was one-for-nine in three games at Safeco Field in Seattle.
Abreu, a career .300 hitter in his four previous seasons in Major League Baseball, has seen his batting average slip from a high of .319 two months ago to .250. He was two-for-four Monday against the Angels with his 14th home run and improved his batting average to 253.
The three-game series with the Mariners was hardly a disaster, in spite of the Sox dropping two of three games. Shields pitched well in the opener. Dylan Covey was masterful in a 5-0 Sox victory in game two of the series. The Sox’ Reynaldo Lopez was tagged for five runs in the first inning Sunday and the Sox faltered, 8-2, in the series finale.