White Sox manager Rick Renteria leaves team to attend funeral

Manager Rick Renteria traveled to California on Thursday to attend the funeral of a family member, the White Sox said.

Renteria will rejoin the team as soon as possible after he clears the necessary protocol upon his return. Bench coach Joe McEwing will assume Renteria’s duties in his absence.

The Sox are on Day 7 of their summer camp as they prepare for a 60-game season cut short by the coronavirus. The season begins for the Sox on July 24.

McEwing oversaw the team’s first intrasquad game, a four-inning scrimmage highlighted by Edwin Encarnacion’s home run to left-center field against left-hander Aaron Bummer. Danny Mendick, who had singled, alertly scored from third while Tim Anderson was caught in a lengthy rundown after Anderson got picked off first.

Eloy Jimenez made a nice over-the-shoulder catch going back on Luis Basabe’s deep drive to left. Right-hander Drew Anderson pitched two perfect innings with strikeouts of Nick Madrigal (looking), James McCann and Andrew Vaughn. Ross Detwiler faced the minimum in two innings.

2021 schedule released

Major League Baseball released its 2021 schedule, two weeks before the 2020 season is expected to begin. The Sox open against the Angels in Anaheim, California, and host the Royals on April 8 in their home opener.

The Crosstown Classic games against the Cubs will be Aug. 6-8 at Wrigley Field and Aug. 27-29 at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Interleague matchups will be the same as this year: American League Central vs. National League Central, pitting the Sox against the Cubs, Brewers, Pirates, Cardinals and Reds. The Sox close at home against the Tigers and the Cubs in St. Louis against the Cardinals.

Encarnacion delivers

When designated hitter Encarnacion went into his home-run trot, teammates from the home dugout shouted at him to showcase his well-known “parrot” gesture, with his right arm elevated like a perch for a bird. It also has been called an “Edwin.”

He finally gave in after he rounded second base.

Encarnacion, 37, leads the majors with 297 home runs since 2012. He was signed as a free agent in the offseason.

Cishek ‘pretty much ready’

Right-hander Steve Cishek, like Encarnacion a free agent signee in the offseason, pitched 1⅓ innings, allowing a run and two singles. He struck out Zack Collins and Leury Garcia and is ready to assume his usual heavy workload.

Cishek made 70 appearances for the Cubs last season.

“I came in here pretty much ready,” Cishek, 33, said. “I’ve been facing hitters twice a week [in Florida]. It’s just a matter of getting those reps in.”

Hailing a taxi

The Sox’ taxi squad will train at Boomers Stadium, home of the Schaumburg Boomers in the northwest suburbs.

The site is not for players on the Sox’ active roster but for those eligible to be recalled or have their contracts purchased by the club.

Workouts and intrasquad games will begin July 15 and run through the end of the season, overseen by coaches and staff from the Sox’ player-development department.

The Sox will release a roster of players scheduled to be assigned to Boomers Stadium before the start of workouts.