White Sox manage 4 hits in 2-0 loss to Mariners
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox received solid pitching. They just couldn't overcome their anemic offense.
The White Sox managed four hits — two each by Melky Cabrera and Alexei Ramirez — but were shut out for the second time in three games and ninth time this season in a 2-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.
"We didn't muster any offense," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "You have to be able to put something on the board. If they score two, you have to be able to score three."
Kyle Seager and Franklin Gutierrez both had three hits and a homer for the Mariners and Taijuan Walker allowed three hits before leaving with an injury in the seventh inning.
Walker (10-7) suffered a cramp in his right hip flexor after working 6 1-3 innings. Walker, who struck out six, experienced discomfort while facing Chicago's Adam LaRoche and walked off the field under his own power after being examined by a team trainer.
"It was just tight," Walker said. "When it cramps, it just gets tight for a couple seconds and then after that, it's good."
Tom Wilhelmsen pitched the ninth to earn his fifth save in as many opportunities.
The Mariners snapped a scoreless tie in the sixth with two solo homers. Seager, who entered Friday's game hitting .196 in August, led off the inning with a homer to right off White Sox starter John Danks (6-12).
Two batters later, Gutierrez drove his homer to left, giving Seattle a 2-0 lead.
Danks scattered seven hits over six innings, struck out five and took his third loss in his last four outings.
"Everybody's got to do their job," Danks said. "There's been plenty of times where I didn't hold up my end of the bargain. It's part of it. It's frustrating."
The left-hander is 0-4 with a 6.17 ERA in his last four starts against the Mariners.
"Command wasn't as good as I'd like," Danks said. "I got away with some stuff, didn't get away with a couple."
Chicago loaded the bases with one out in the seventh when LaRoche walked and Ramirez singled. But Carson Smith, who relieved Walker and pitched two scoreless innings, got pinch-hitter J.B. Shuck to ground into an inning-ending double play.
"(You) just look for something out over the plate," Shuck said. "I got it and unfortunately hit it into the ground and right at somebody."
Mariners right fielder Nelson Cruz, who entered the game having reached base in 37 straight games, the American League's longest streak this year, saw that end after going 0 for 5.
RETURNING TO FORM
Entering Friday's game, RHP Nate Jones pitched in consecutive games for the first time since returning in early August after undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2014. Jones allowed two runs in an inning against the Red Sox on Wednesday and threw a scoreless inning Thursday against the Mariners. He has allowed two runs in 8 1-3 innings this season. "Physically, for him to be able to do what he's done the last two days is a big hurdle, especially what he's come back from," Ventura said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners: Seager returned to the lineup after being given a day off to rest in Thursday's series opener. ... LHP James Paxton (strained left middle finger) was scheduled to make a rehab start at Triple-A Tacoma on Friday. Paxton has been sidelined since the end of May. . Struggling C Mike Zunino was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday and the Mariners called up C John Hicks from Tacoma.
UP NEXT
Mariners RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (5-3, 4.29 ERA) will go for his fourth win in his last five outings while White Sox RHP Jeff Samardzija (8-10, 4.75 ERA) hopes to end a career-worst five-game losing streak. His last victory came on July 28, against Boston.