Dylan Covey shelled in return from injured list; White Sox routed by A’s

Right-hander Juan Minaya was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for the Sox starter.

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OAKLAND, Calif. — The White Sox took right-hander Dylan Covey off the injured list to make a start Saturday against the Athletics. It did not go well for Covey, who got only two outs.

Pitching for the first time in more than a month, Covey was routed for six runs in a seven-run outburst by the A’s in the first inning of the Sox’ 13-2 loss. After facing eight batters, he was replaced by left-hander Ross Detwiler, who promptly allowed a three-run home run to ninth-place batter Franklin Barreto, and the rout was on.

So much for a good start to the second half for the Sox, who lost 5-1 Friday.

“These are probably two of the toughest or worst games back-to-back that I can remember for us,” said manager Rick Renteria, whose team fell to 42-46 with eight games to go on a road trip that continues against the Royals and Rays.

Covey, a fourth-round draft pick by the A’s in 2013 who was selected by the Sox in the Rule 5 draft in 2016, was 1-4 with a 4.58 ERA entering the game. He exited with a 5.92 ERA after yielding four hits, including doubles by Marcus Semien and Matt Chapman to open the first, and two walks. He struck out one.

“I played with, like, half of those guys coming up with the A’s and just really wanted to beat them,” Covey said. “Basically for one of the first times this year I was feeling 100 percent healthy. I think that feeling of just feeling really good and really powerful and just wanting the game so bad, it kind of led to me getting out of rhythm.”

Renteria said the Sox’ bad look — left fielder Eloy Jimenez made an error and threw to the wrong base on the same play, first baseman AJ Reed lost a foul pop fly in the sun with Covey pitching and they mustered seven hits against ex-Sox righty Chris Bassitt and three relievers — had nothing to do with being flat coming out of the All-Star break.

“You know what? We’re better than this,” Renteria said. “When a club jumps on you strong early, it always looks like you’re flat.”

Renteria said he talked to the team in the dugout.

“Just play better [Sunday],” he said.

Minaya DFA’d

To make room for Covey, the Sox designated right-handed reliever Juan Minaya for assignment before the game.

Detwiler, who made two starts but was pulled from the rotation in favor of Covey, will be used in relief, Renteria said.

The Sox’ 40-man roster decreased to 39.

Collins breaks drought with single

Catcher Zack Collins (1-for-4), a first-round pick in 2016, made his fourth start behind the plate and, after striking out twice, singled to left, his first hit since a homer against the Cubs in his first at-bat 3½ weeks ago.

Collins is 2-for-26 with 14 strikeouts. It remains unclear whether he’ll stick around when Welington Castillo (oblique) has completed his minor-league rehab assignment.

“He’s kind of been thrust into this whole thing with high expectations from everybody in all aspects of his game,” Renteria said. “He’s working, learning. He did all right.”

This and that

Shortstop Tim Anderson (high right ankle sprain) took batting practice and went through mobility drills with training staff.

Kelvin Herrera (7.84 ERA) continued to struggle, walking two and hitting Ramon Laureano with the bases loaded before he was pulled.

† The Sox are 3-12 against the A’s in the last two seasons, including 1-7 at the Oakland Coliseum.

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