Struggling Todd Frazier trying to ‘sit back and enjoy the show’

As has been the case for him all season, White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier failed to follow up on an explosive game at the plate with another outing that might suggest he is ready to get something going offensively.

Frazier homered and had his first multihit game in nearly two weeks Thursday against the Twins. But in the Sox’ 3-0 loss Friday to the Athletics, his 0-for-4 included a rally-killing double play in the seventh inning and a fielder’s-choice pop-up with two on and one out in the ninth.

‘‘I feel fine,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m streaky, that’s it.’’

In danger of seeing his batting average fall below .200, Frazier — who does have 12 homers and 35 RBI — is overdue for a hot streak. The Sox would settle for a warmish streak.

‘‘You’ve got to come to grips with yourself and understand what you can do,’’ he said. ‘‘When I get hot, I know I can carry a team. And when I’m not, I’m going to need some help. That’s basically it.’’

Frazier, 31, has been working on putting less pressure on himself — a challenge he started dealing with, he recalled, as a 12-year-old.

‘‘I told [manager Rick Renteria] the other day that I put a little too much pressure on myself sometimes,’’ he said. ‘‘I told him I’m trying to just sit back and enjoy the show sometimes. I don’t have to reinvent the wheel here.’’

Pleading in the fifth

Well, that sure was a strange bottom of the fifth.

With one out and the Sox trailing 3-0, shortstop Tim Anderson bounced a pitch from A’s starter Jharel Cotton right in front of the plate. Umpire Jim Wolf called the ball fair. Anderson, apparently thinking it was foul, never got out of the box, was tagged out by catcher Bruce Maxwell and — in the blink of an eye — was ejected by Wolf. It was the first ejection of his big-league career.

Seconds later, Renteria was given the heave-ho, too.

Then Yolmer Sanchez bounced a single up the middle off the glove of A’s shortstop Chad Pinder. While Pinder — in the outfield grass, his back to first base — stared blankly at the ball for what seemed an interminable length of time, Sanchez eventually tried to sneak into second. Pinder, roused from his reverie, got the ball just in time to second baseman Jed Lowrie, who tagged Sanchez for a highly questionable out.

After a long review, the call was upheld. It easily could have — probably should have — been overturned. Maybe the Sox had no one left to argue.

Rodon in action

Left-hander Carlos Rodon made his fourth rehab start — and his third at Class AAA Charlotte — as he continues to try to work his way back from bursitis in his left biceps. He allowed eight runs (seven earned) and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out seven, walked two and threw 91 pitches, 54 for strikes.

Follow me on Twitter @SLGreenberg.

Email: sgreenberg@suntimes.com

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