White Sox swept away by Rays; losing streak reaches five

It’s no fun when you’re getting your butt kicked on a daily basis.

It’s even worse when it’s cold, wet and windy outside, with maybe a couple hundred hardy souls braving the elements to watch till the very end at your home park.

And, after sitting through a one-hour, 39-minute weather delay, watch more bad White Sox baseball is what they did. With right-hander Reynaldo Lopez getting lit up for eight runs and 10 hits, including three home runs, in 4⅓ innings — the third bad start in as many outings for the Sox’ best pitcher in 2018 — and with Rays righty Tyler Glasnow dominating with a career-high 11 strikeouts in six scoreless innings of two-hit ball, the Sox completed a 1-5 homestand with a 9-1 loss to the Rays.

The Rays (10-3) outscored the 3-8 Sox 24-7 in a three-game sweep. It may be Year 3 of the Sox’ rebuild, but another 100-loss season, which wasn’t part of the plan, doesn’t look to be out of the question. Not at this rate, anyway.

“We’re as frustrated as anyone else,” manager Rick Renteria said. “We’re looking for solutions.

“I told the guys we’re going to be all right. It’s something we have to weather.”

Lopez struggles again

Most troublesome for the Sox was Lopez, whose ERA climbed from 10.00 to 12.15. On a day when the Sox needed him to go deeper because of their taxed bullpen, he was responsible for the team’s sixth consecutive poor start, four of those by the Carlos Rodon, Lucas Giolito, Lopez portion of the rotation that is supposed to be the team’s future.

Renteria said there are no excuses for Lopez. It’s simply a matter of poor command.

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“Some of his misses are significant when they’re a foot or two at a time,” he said.

Lopez said his mechanics are off.

“The thing frustrating me the most is I know that those guys are trying to do their best, and I haven’t been able to help them,” Lopez said.

“Three bad outings. There is no other way to say it.”

Tommy Pham, the second batter in the first inning, hit a two-run homer, and it was all downhill from there.

They’re in the money

According to figures researched by Forbes, the Sox are worth $1.5 billion, which ranks 14th in the majors and represents an 11 percent increase over last year, when they were valued at $1.35 billion.

The Sox’ financial picture looks even better from a profitability standpoint.

According to Forbes, they rank sixth — with an operating income of $76 million — behind the Dodgers ($95 million), Phillies ($94 million), Cubs ($87 million), Giants and Red Sox ($84 million each).

The Sox don’t make their financial information public, but a team spokesman challenged the veracity of Forbes’ annual estimates and said it’s unclear where the numbers come from.

Frare optioned to Charlotte

Lefty Caleb Frare, after making his first Opening Day roster, was optioned to Class AAA Charlotte. A corresponding move will be made Friday to replace Frare, who allowed two earned runs in 2‰ innings in four relief appearances.

This and that

Eloy Jimenez, batting .279, doubled in the ninth inning for his first extra-base hit.

† Reliever Kelvin Herrera extended his scoreless-innings streak to four.