DETROIT – The White Sox will play the entire three-game series against the Detroit Tigers which opened Friday night without left fielder Melky Cabrera, one of their most productive hitters.
Cabrera was placed on the Family Emergency Leave List Friday afternoon due to a family medical issue, and right-hander Tommy Kahnle was recalled from Class AAA Charlotte.
Cabrera is required to miss a minimum of three days and is expected back Tuesday for the first game of a homestand that starts with the Washington Nationals. A switch-hitter who has been used in the No.’s 2, 3, 4 and 5 spots in the lineup, Cabrera had played in every game and is hitting .275 with four homers, nine doubles, two triples, 24 RBI and 25 runs scored.
It’s a significant loss for a team already getting by with subpar production from Jose Abreu, who has three hits in his last 24 at-bats. Abreu is batting .242 with six homers and 28 RBI. Leadoff man Adam Eaton is in the first slump of the season.
“And emotionally, he’s a big part of the team mentally and character-wise,’’ manager Robin Ventura said of Cabrera. “Something like this happens, the guys feel for him and want him back but they understand why he’s gone.”
Designated hitter Avisail Garcia, who has played five games in left during his career, took Cabrera’s spot in left field and light-hitting shortstop Jimmy Rollins was at DH in Ventura’s makeshift lineup against Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmerman (7-2, 2.52).
With Austin Jackson likely unavailable for a fourth straight game, Ventura was without two-thirds of his normal outfield and stuck with a two-man bench — catcher Dioner Navarro and outfielder-first baseman Jerry Sands.
Even though the Sox had an off day Thursday, a pitcher was called up because closer David Robertson and setup men Nate Jones and Matt Albers each pitched two innings in the Sox’ 2-1 victory over the Mets in 13 innings Wednesday. Ventura said it was a “coin flip” of those three would be available Friday.
Jackson still not there
Jackson (turf toe) tested his foot before the game but was still sore and only available in an emergency, Ventura said.
“He can hit, but running becomes an issue, slowing down for him,” Ventura said.
The Sox can’t go much longer without putting him on the DL.
“He says he’s been feeling better, so we can give him another day and see,” Ventura said. “We’ve got three days here, so we can go day-to-day here until we get to that off day.”
Adam ain’t
Eaton was in his first slump of the year, going 5-for-38 over his last 10 games. Three of those hits came in one game, and his frustration hit a boiling point when he destroyed a container of sunflower seeds in the dugout Wednesday.
“It’s been difficult,” Eaton said. “You never really hope that you find a rut as big as I’ve found. But it comes and goes. It’s just how baseball goes at times. It’s no fun.“But you can only suck for so long. I use that term a lot and very loosely. But you know there’s some truth in that and today is a good day to get out of it. We always have the saying as well: If you are hitting, keep hitting. If you are not hitting, start hitting.”
