White Sox trounced by Royals, fall to 1-5

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The White Sox have been beaten by one run three times and by nine on two occasions.

Six games into the season, charting the ways they lose has become the way to watch.

The 10-1 thrashing from the Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday was the latest rout. It was a tidy 2-1 game after Michael Soroka pitched six innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits and no walks while striking out two, but an eight-run calamity against relievers Deivi Garcia and Dominic Leone in the seventh inning made a mess of it.

Three walks, an error by shortstop Braden Shewmake on a routine ground ball, a throw from right fielder Dominic Fletcher to the wrong base that allowed a run to score and a home run by MJ Melendez against Leone were the lowlights.

“Physical mistakes are OK, but we made some fundamental mistakes we’re not accustomed to making,” manager Pedro Grifol said.

Gavin Sheets, the designated hitter for the Sox in place of injured Eloy Jimenez, doubled and walked three times. He has reached base seven consecutive times.

Sheets also was thrown out easily at home by right fielder Hunter Renfroe when he tried to score on Shewmake’s short fly ball, a decision that smacks of the Sox’ inability to score runs. It was 2-1 at the time. It was also the fourth double play for the Royals, who turned three on the infield.

“Being aggressive in that situation,” Sheets said. “He got flat-footed, and we decided to take a chance.

Seth Lugo (1-0) gave up one run in 6⅔ innings for the Royals (3-4), whose starters have a 1.43 ERA.

“He was throwing the ball really well; sometimes you have to take chances,” Sheets said.

“Got to keep battling. We have to show up [Friday], can’t lose confidence, can’t lose the expectation to win. It’s not the start we wanted, but we have to come to the field expecting to win.”

Frustration for Jimenez

Fans are frustrated by Jimenez’s recurring injury problems since the start of his career, the latest an adductor strain suffered while running out a ground ball Sunday.

Jimenez is right there with them.

“It is frustrating, you know?” Jimenez said after taking batting practice. “Right now it’s just move the page and keep going. Things are going to happen. Sometimes I want to go home, but I don’t want to give up like that. I’m going to keep working. I’m going to be here for my team.”

It’s as dejected as Jimenez has been, if not more, after an injury. He described it as a groin issue.

That “go home” part didn’t sound so good.

“Remembering all these years with everything that’s happened, it’s really frustrating,” he said when asked about that.

“I’m just asking myself, ‘What next? What are we going to do to get out of it?’ ”

Grifol said Jimenez, who missed his third start, could be available to pinch-hit but he did not play.

He’s waiting for his fortunes to change.

“At some point, it’s going to,’’ Jimenez said. ‘‘I know because I’ve been working. You guys see it. Just keep working, and I know someday it’s going to [turn].”

The many injuries of Eloy Jimenez

White Sox

Eloy Jimenez exits with left adductor soreness as White Sox get swept in first series against Tigers

Jimenez pulled up lame as he ran to first base on a groundout in the sixth inning.

By Kyle Williams

 

White Sox

White Sox' Eloy Jimenez day-to-day with bruised foot

The designated hitter fouled a pitch off his right foot Wednesday.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

 

White Sox

White Sox put rookie outfielder Eloy Jimenez on injured list

Jimenez is expected to miss a couple of weeks because of a high ankle sprain. Reliever Nate Jones also was put on the IL.

By Tom Musick

 

White Sox

Elbow injury will send Eloy Jimenez to IL for second time

White Sox left fielder Eloy Jimenez was injured when he collided with center fielder Charlie Tilson on the warning track in the first inning.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

 

White Sox

White Sox’ Eloy Jimenez likely out 5-6 months with left pectoral tendon rupture

Jimenez was injured leaping at the wall on a home run hit by A’s catcher Sean Murphy on Wednesday.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

 

White Sox

Eloy Jimenez out 4-6 weeks after undergoing appendectomy; White Sox fall to Reds

Jimenez experienced discomfort Friday night and was sent to a hospital for further evaluation Saturday morning.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

 

White Sox

White Sox’ Eloy Jimenez lands on 10-day injured list

The club recalled infielder Jake Burger from Triple-A Charlotte.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

 

White Sox

Eloy Jimenez leaves field on cart with hamstring injury; White Sox’ skid at six

Eloy Jimenez was injured while running out a ground ball.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

 

White Sox

White Sox’ Eloy Jimenez out with tight groin

Jimenez felt tightness in his groin in the Sox’ 5-3 win over the Cubs Tuesday.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

 

White Sox

White Sox’ Eloy Jimenez expected to miss several days with groin injury

Jimenez, who hit into a double play in his only at-bat Sunday, will be further evaluated Monday, the team said.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

 

White Sox

White Sox’ Eloy Jimenez out 6-8 weeks with hamstring strain

Jimenez will be further evaluated by team physicians in Chicago before treatment plan put in place

By Daryl Van Schouwen

 

No need for Nick

Nick Nastrini’s debut in the rotation might not come as soon as expected. Nastrini’s velocity was down — general manager Chris Getz said illness was a factor — in a lackluster start for Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday.

A fifth starter won’t be needed till Monday in Cleveland, but a bullpen game is possible.