The White Sox lost another game Friday, but of more concern than their fifth consecutive defeat was the condition of reliever Danny Farquhar.
Farquhar, 31, passed out in the dugout after completing the sixth inning.
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After allowing two runs in two-thirds of an inning in the Sox’ 10-0 loss to the Astros at Guaranteed Rate Field, Farquhar collapsed and was helped into the clubhouse, where he was attended to by team medical personnel and on-site emergency medical technicians.
Farquhar was taken by ambulance to Rush University Medical Center, where he was to undergo further treatment and testing.
“You never want to see a teammate go down like that; it was pretty scary,” said James Shields, who started the game before Farquhar relieved him. “Baseball gets put aside when something like that happens. You never want a teammate to go down — or anybody for that matter. Our prayers are with him. Hopefully, he’s all right.”
Players were told that Farquhar was conscious and answering questions. The right-hander is in his second season with the Sox.
Another ugly defeat
On the flight from Oakland after an 0-4 road trip, Shields made his way to the front of the plane to deliver a message to manager Rick Renteria.
“I’ve got Friday,” Shields told Renteria not long after making his second career relief appearance in the 14-inning marathon Wednesday against the Athletics, an outing that put Shields’ scheduled start in jeopardy.
As it turned out, Shields didn’t have Friday. Instead, Justin Verlander ruled the day.
Shields maneuvered through three scoreless innings before the Astros struck for five runs en route to handing the Sox their 10th loss in their last 11 games.
Verlander limited the Sox to two hits in six innings and received plenty of offensive support, led by Carlos Correa (3-for-5, two home runs, three RBI) and George Springer (2-for-5, four RBI).
Shields went 5„ innings and yielded seven runs and eight hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Verlander walked three and struck out five
Getting closer
Left-hander Carlos Rodon was at Guaranteed Rate Field and said his recovery from shoulder surgery is going well.
Rodon is in town for a checkup on the shoulder that was operated on last September and will throw a side session with pitching coach Don Cooper on Saturday. Rodon will then head back to Arizona and is scheduled to make a start Monday in extended spring training.
If all goes according to plan, Rodon will work his way through the minor-league system before returning to the Sox soon after his 60-day disabled-list stint ends.
“You never know what could happen, setbacks and what-not — those things can lengthen out the process — but if everything goes well, hopefully by the end of [May],” Rodon said of his possible season debut.
Familiar face
Outfielder Trayce Thompson is thrilled to be back with the Sox after being acquired Thursday in a trade with the A’s for cash considerations.
The Sox selected Thompson in the second round of the 2009 draft. He broke through in ’15, hitting .295 with five homers and 16 RBI in 44 games. After that season, Thompson was dealt to the Dodgers, and he worked his way into a starting center-field role before a back injury ended his ’16 season. The Yankees and A’s claimed Thompson off waivers this season before he landed back with the Sox.
“It’s up to me to prove myself again,” Thompson said.
