The White Sox face the untimely but all-too-common prospect of losing centre-back Luis Robert for an extended period of time due to a bruised bone in his right hand.
But they couldn’t foresee or afford a rare hard outing from the throwing savior Johnny Cueto.
But that was the case on Friday as Cueto scored for a season-high seven runs in the first three innings of a 7-2 loss to the Diamondbacks, fueling the post-game boos. match.
“They came to see us win a football match and we were beaten,” the manager said Tony La Russa said. “Most of the game was unbalanced, right? They have every right to be upset – to the team, to management, whatever – they have every right to do so.
“But I’m just saying the fact that they’re here and they’ve said, ‘Let’s go, White Sox,’ it’s amazing. It’s incredible fan support here, and I have a lot of love. experience. But there’s no free lunch. It’s a two-way relationship. They support you and you have to reciprocate. So we have to do more to give back.
The loss, the Sox’s seventh in their last nine games, took them back to the .500 mark (63-63) for the first time since Aug. 11 after a loss to the Royals.
The biggest blow was a three-point brace by Josh Rojas with two out in the second inning, and Emmanuel Rivera capped the rally by six points with a home run.
The explosion ended Cueto’s streak of not allowing a 35‰ inning home run, and Cueto’s quality starting streak ended at 10.
Daulton Varsho homered with one out in the third to increase the Diamondbacks’ lead to 7-0.
“It was just a bad outing,” Cueto said. “I am also a human being. And it happens.
Meanwhile, La Russa admitted Robert would need a few days off after tests revealed inflammation as well as a bruise.
“When he takes a normal swing, it’s okay,” La Russa said before the game. “But if he takes a funky swing, it seems to irritate him.”
La Russa, however, has all but ruled out Robert heading to the 10-day injured list.
“If he takes the weekend and [with] the day off on Monday and all of a sudden he’s ready on Tuesday, he’s definitely worth it,” La Russa said.
left fielder Eloy Jimenez left the game in the ninth, three innings after appearing to limp while missing a base hit.
Anderson will play for Team USA
Shortstop Tim Anderson will play for Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, MLB announced on its Twitter account.
“He’s going to put on a show because he rises to the occasion,” La Russa said. “For all of us who see him, let the world see him, see how special he is. I am very happy.”
Anderson continued his recovery from surgery by performing exercises with a bandage around his left hand before the game.
“He’s doing whatever it takes to keep himself fit, and soon he’ll start swinging and doing other things,” La Russa said. “Every report is that he is working very well. Everything is positive.
Moncada sits down
third baseman Yoan Moncada did not play due to a strain in his left hamstring but could return on Saturday, La Russa said.