Liam Hendriks hasn’t been with the White Sox long, but he’s already sounding like someone who has lived on the South Side for years.
Asked whether the team is getting national attention for things besides the recently unveiled alternate uniform, Hendriks alluded to the Cubs.
“I feel like we have to take four steps to get any sort of national recognition while our crosstown rivals just have to put together one game and then they’ll get on it,” Hendriks said. “But I’ve dealt with that the last six years of my career [with the Athletics]. It’s nothing as if it’s anything new to me. I actually enjoy that. I like being able to have to work harder to get any recognition because that just means you have to put in the work”
True or not, perhaps it’s something that’s fueling Hendriks.
“We have that chip on our shoulder like, you guys can continue to talk about who is the No. 1 team in the city, the No. 1 fan base in the city, whoever it is,” Hendriks said, “but we’re going to go out there, we’re going to do our business and we’re going to let everybody know how good we are.”
This weekend, Hendriks showed he’s pretty good and durable.
On Saturday, he became the first Sox pitcher to close both ends of a doubleheader since Bobby Jenks in 2010. Despite that workload, Hendriks said he was ready to pitch again and closed out Sunday’s victory with another perfect ninth to convert his ninth consecutive save opportunity, running his streak of scoreless appearances to 14.
“Lot of season left, and he said he was good and he convinced the trainer and the pitching coach,” manager Tony La Russa said. “And if we had a chance to save it, he was the guy.”
The Sox don’t face the Cubs until Aug. 6.
Impressed with Burger
Taken in the first round of the 2017 draft, prospect Jake Burger’s ascent to the majors has been slowed by injuries, keeping him out of action in 2018 and 2019.
This year, Burger finally is playing again in the Sox’ system. And doing well.
Entering play Sunday, Burger was slashing .282/.338/.620 for Triple-A Charlotte, leading the Knights with six home runs.
La Russa said he noticed Burger’s enthusiasm during drills in spring training and even his defense at third base. By the end of camp, Burger had shaken some of the rust that built up and was hitting the ball hard by the time the team went north.
“No surprise he’s gone into the season, he’s healthy,” La Russa said. “He’s a definite prospect.”
The pitching plan
The Sox will call up Jimmy Lambert from Charlotte to start one of Monday’s games, with Carlos Rodon taking the other. As of La Russa’s postgame media briefing, the Sox hadn’t determined who would start which game.
On only three days of rest, Lance Lynn will start Wednesday’s series finale.
Eaton likely to return against Indians
Adam Eaton (hamstring) was not in the lineup, but La Russa said the Sox expected him to play in one or both games Monday in Cleveland.
