White Sox will have worst July in franchise history

The White Sox flirted with a .500 record for the first couple of months of the season, but the reality of rebuilding has taken hold as the trade deadline nears.

Their 5-4 loss Saturday to the Indians at Guaranteed Rate Field was their ninth in a row at home. That’s their worst home losing streak since an 11-gamer in 1989.

And the Sox have been just as bad on the road lately, losing 14 of their last 15 games overall and going 8-26 in their last 34 games.

The Sox, who have traded Todd Frazier, Dan Jennings, Tommy Kahnle, Jose Quintana, David Robertson and Anthony Swarzak in the last two-plus weeks, are 4-18 (.182) this month and will have the worst July in franchise history. They went 9-23 (.281) in July 1950 on their way to a 60-94 season.

‘‘All of us understand what we’re dealing with,’’ manager Rick Renteria said. ‘‘We’re a club that is fully in transition; we’re making changes. But that being said, by no means do I believe our guys go out there not to try to win the ballgame.’’

Garcia heads to Charlotte

Leury Garcia began his rehab assignment at Class AAA Charlotte, batting leadoff and playing center field.

Garcia’s recovery from a sprained finger has taken ‘‘a little longer than most,’’ Renteria said two weeks ago. At that time, Renteria expected Garcia to go on a rehab assignment in the next few days.

Garcia went on the disabled list June 20, more than a week after jamming his hand on second base June 11 against the Indians.

‘‘We’re hoping he’s going to continue to be pain-free,’’ Renteria said. ‘‘The hand seems to be responding well. It’s taking a little longer than we hoped, but he’s working really hard, and hopefully he’ll be able to get himself on track playing again and playing at a higher level of competition.’’

Garcia was hitting .298 with six home runs and 22 RBI before the injury.

Narvaez streaking

Catcher Omar Narvaez has been one of the few bright spots in the last several weeks, batting .351 with a .413 on-base percentage in his last 21 games.

Narvaez is hitting .272 with a .365 OBP this season, numbers that could lend themselves to a higher spot in the batting order. But Renteria said he wants speed at the top of the order.

‘‘For as good of an idea or as progressive of an idea as it might be, I don’t know if I would do it,’’ Renteria said.

On the farm

Minor-league infielder Jake Peter entered play Saturday with an 18-game hitting streak between Class AA Birmingham and Charlotte. He’s hitting .384 with four doubles, four homers and nine RBI during the streak.

Peter, a seventh-round pick in the 2014 draft, isn’t one of the Sox’ top 30 prospects, according to MLB.com.

Follow me on Twitter @davidjustCST.

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