White Sox snap six-game losing streak, cap wonky week with doubleheader split vs. Royals

It’s no fun being 3-15.

Understatements for $100, please!

It left White Sox manager Pedro Grifol talking about faith in a higher power on Tuesday, and having to explain a misunderstood pregame schedule Wednesday from the day before. Captured on social media, “optional” stretching and batting practice posted next to the Tuesday lineup didn’t go over with a fan base already suffering through the worst start in franchise history.

What, these guys don’t have to take batting practice? Stretching is optional?

Those who have been around the team on a daily basis since spring training know the Sox are working. And stretching.

And losing — an awful lot.

It’s not for lack of work, or stretching. They’re just not very good.

But when the losses mount at breakneck speed — the Sox blew a lead in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Royals on Wednesday before holding on for their third win in Game 2 — the scrutiny is magnified.

Fans watching Eloy Jimenez, Yoan Moncada and Luis Robert Jr. get injured by just running out ground balls ask questions with good reason. Their absence from the lineup has much to do, but certainly not all, with the record.

But as Grifol explained before the doubleheader, the Sox take a lot of batting practice, hitting in the cages, reviewing video, taking infield and doing outfield drills. And if they don’t stretch with the group, they stretch elsewhere.

“Come on, guys,” Grifol said. “What are we talking about here? Really? This is a major-league game. They do this for a living. We’re trying to prevent injuries. They want to stay on the field. And we’re talking about guys coming on the field without stretching? Come on.”

Support systems, on and off the field

Such is the state of the scrutinized Sox, and Grifol’s trying existence as he navigates through a start to his second season that is barreling toward what could be an even worse start than his first season, 7-21. On Tuesday, Grifol was asked about his support system to lean on through difficult times.

This is where we are, and it’s only mid-April.

“My family and I, we’re really close,” Grifol said. “That support system keeps me upbeat. I have confidence in what I do. It’s not working out right now but I believe in myself, I believe in my experiences and I believe in myself as a manager. I know I can do this.

“But most importantly, my faith keeps me in check. I’m at peace every day. There is a master plan to this, I don’t control it, it’s controlled by a higher power I believe in. During this storm, last year’s storm, I have incredible peace. It doesn’t mean I don’t have urgency, or work less, it has nothing to do with that. I have a sense of inner peace where I know everything is going to turn out all right one way or the other.”

Grifol said not a day goes by where he doesn’t find something he could have done better.

“I’m really tough on myself,” he said.

A win in Game 2, with perhaps 1,000 fans in the seats at the end, came with much relief. A noisy celebration was heard from outside the clubhouse.

Erick Fedde (3.10 ERA) pitched 5⅔ innings of scoreless ball, Gavin Sheets hit his third homer, and Andrew Vaughn broke a 1-for-20 slump with a double and scored on a Dominic Fletcher single. Korey Lee, performing like the best catcher on the roster, threw out Dairon Blanco trying to steal in the eighth after he got a running lead on Deivi Garcia (two-inning save).

But the Sox were held to four runs and 11 hits over both games and a combined 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position.

“We’ve got some things to clean up,” Grifol said. “Our situational hitting. We’ve got to put points on the board to give these guys a bit of a break on the mound. And see if we can put it all together on both sides of the ball.”