Jonathan Cannon superb, but White Sox fall to Mariners in 10 innings

SEATTLE — Right-hander Jonathan Cannon was superb Wednesday night in a 2-1 loss in 10 innings against the Mariners.

The White Sox lineup? Not so much, until Luis Robert Jr. belted a pinch-hit home run on the first pitch in the ninth inning against Mike Baumann, knotting a game that went into extra innings tied at 1. It was the Sox’ third hit of the game.

Following three innings of scoreless relief to close out a victory against the Red Sox on Friday, Cannon allowed one run — a homer to right field by Luke Raley with one out in the seventh — four hits, struck out seven and walked one in seven innings of work against the Mariners.

It was the Sox’ fourth loss in a row and 22nd in their last 25 games.

“It’s always difficult,” said Robert, who hit the first pitch of the inning for his sixth homer of the season and first pinch homer of his career. “Every time we lose it’s difficult. We have to turn the page, come back tomorrow and try to win a game.”

Cannon, who lowered his ERA to 4.56, is one of seven Sox players to make their major-league debuts this season, joining Drew Thorpe (Tuesday), Jordan Leasure, Bryan Ramos, Nick Nastrini, Zach DeLoach and Duke Ellis.

This was Cannon’s fifth appearance and his best, a notch above his debut against the Royals on April 17 when he gave up one run in five innings.

“He’s got that mindset to put you away,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “It was a big game for him. He took a step in the right direction here.”

Bryce Miller held the Sox to two hits and struck out eight in seven innings.

Korey Lee doubled leading off the third but did not not score. Nicky Lopez popped up a sacrifice bunt attempt, Andrew Vaughn flied out and Gavin Sheets fouled out.

Paul DeJong walked leading off the fourth and but was thrown out trying to steal. Manager Pedro Grifol wanted to challenge but was told the alloted time to challenge ran out.

“The way the challenge works, I look back and [bench coach] Charlie [Montoya] is on the phone counting down, and they tell me ‘challenge or not.’ Charlie was counting five, four, three and when he got to three he said challenge, I challenged and they said I ran out of time. I didn’t think I ran out of time.”

In the 10th, free runner Danny Mendick went to third on Zach DeLoach’s grounder to the right side but Lenyn Sosa grounded out sharply to third and pinch hitter Andrew Benintendi struck out against Trent Thornton.

“We have to have that killer mentality of ‘this guy is on third, we have to bring him in,’ '' Grifol said. “But these guys are young, they’re getting good experience of ABs in situations that will help us down the road. There is development going on but we’re playing to win every day.

“But it’s just not happening here. We played three good baseball games [walked off twice].”

Benintendi, Wilson reinstated, Hill DFA’d

Outfielder Andrew Benintendi was reinstated from the injured list before the game, and Tommy Pham could be right behind him.

The Sox also reinstated right-handed reliever Steven Wilson, who has been on the IL with a back strain since May 20, and designated left-hander Tim Hill for assignment.

Wilson took the loss Wednesday night, after allowing the game-winning single by Mitch Haniger.

Benintendi, who was rehabbing from left Achilles tendinitis in Arizona, struck out in a pinch-hit appearance Wednesday night in the 10th inning.

“It just needs a lot more time to be completely gone but I feel confident being in there now,” Benintendi said of his Achilles Wednesday.

Pham also has been playing in Arizona. If he doesn’t join the team Thursday he will on Friday for the opening of a three-game series at the Diamondbacks.

Ellis, who was called up from Double-A Birmingham last Tuesday, was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte to make room for Benintendi.

This and that

• Robert, who has played in eight games since coming off the IL from a hip flexor strain, was held out of the starting lineup for a second time.

  “He’ll get to a point where we can run him a little bit without having to give him that full day off,” Grifol said. “This is the second time around, we’ll increase it a little bit next time and we’ll play it by ear obviously on how he feels. But he feels good right now.”

• Rule 5 draft pick Shane Drohan, who had shoulder surgery in February, was returned to the Red Sox. The left-hander was DFA’d last week and when no team claimed him, the Sox offered him back to Boston.