Maybe Reynaldo López and Ricky Renteria have talked things through by now following Wednesday night’s 8-1 loss against the Twins, but the White Sox pitcher was searching for answers after the game.
The right-hander made his third start since retuning from the injured list and in his fourth outing of the year López was pulled after only going 1.2 innings. You can’t say he pitched well, as he allowed four hits and walked two in less than two innings, but the right-hander probably deserved better in Minnesota. He definitely thought so.
After escaping a bases loaded jam in the first inning, when López struck out Nelson Cruz and then got a double play to end the threat, the righty retired the first two batters in the second. However, Jake Cave launched a solo home run to make it 1-0 and then López walked Ryan Jeffers.
But even then, López looked to be out of the inning, as Max Kepler grounded a ball sharply to Nick Madrigal at second base. Unfortunately for López, Madrigal made an error that extended the inning.
Josh Donaldson made the White Sox pay with a two-run double to right-center field and after 53 pitches, manager Ricky Renteria had seen enough of López.
While talking to reporters after the loss, López wondered why Renteria took him out as soon as he did.
The right-handed pitcher was under the assumption that he’d go about 90 pitches against the Twins. He didn’t help himself by loading the bases in the first and allowing some hard contact in the second, but it did feel like a very quick hook.
Wednesday marked the sixth straight game in which a White Sox starter didn’t pitch beyond the fifth inning. You could argue Renteria maybe should have leaned on López a little more seeing as the bullpen had been drained the previous week.
But at this point it doesn’t matter, as the White Sox look forward to their four-game series against the Royals. In regards to López, he might be asking more questions soon because it doesn’t sound like he’s a lock to be in the rotation in the stretch run.
