Nothing went right for the Chicago White Sox in Friday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Starter Chris Flexen lasted only 2.2 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits and a walk. He fanned as many hitters as homers he surrendered. Reds pitching held the inept White Sox offense to one run on four hits. The South Siders didn't draw a walk and struck out five times.
The Reds teed off on Flexen with a run in the first and a crooked number in the third. With two outs and no one on, the Reds rallied for five runs when Christian Encarnacion-Strand's single, a walk to Spencer Stee, and an infield single by Jake Fraley plated a run.
Elly De La Cruz's three-run blast expanded the lead to 5-0 before Tyler Stephenson added a solo homer in the next at-bat.
More Two-Out Runs
Cincinnati poured gasoline on the fire in the eighth and ninth, with two-run singles in each frame and more timely hitting. Encarnacion-Strand's two-out bases-loaded single drove in Jonathan India and Stephenson. In the ninth, Santiago Espinal's two-out single drove in Fraley and De La Cruz, who reached on a single and a walk, respectively, and advanced to second and third on Martini's groundout.
The Only Good Part
The White Sox' recent call-up, Jared Shuster, provided solid long relief again. The lefty tossed 3.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks in relief of Flexen. Shuster holds a 1.42 ERA in 6.1 innings since his promotion. Deivi Garcia added his second straight scoreless inning of relief.
Robbie Grossman drove in the White Sox' lone run in the third with a double off of Reds starter Andrew Abbott.
News and Notes
Eloy Jimenez is ramping up his baseball activities and is close to a minor-league rehab stint.
The White Sox made a series of roster moves before the loss. They moved Yoan Moncada to the 60-day injured list and designated Bryan Shaw for assignment. Chicago sent outfielder Oscar Colas to Triple-A Charlotte and promoted reliever Justin Anderson and infielder Zach Remillard.
What's On Tap Next?
The Pale Hose look to snap their two-game losing streak Saturday with Garrett Crochet on the mound against the Reds' Nick Lodolo. Lodolo, a lefty, is making his first start of the season. First pitch is at 1:10 PM CT and the game will air on NBC Sports Chicago.
More must-reads: