White Sox' Nick Nastrini shelled for nine runs in 9-2 loss to Jays

TORONTO — White Sox pitcher Nick Nastrini might be relieved to know he won’t get deep-sixed after his disastrous return from Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday.

Six was the number of walks that plunged Nastrini’s pitching line down to nine runs allowed in 3 1/3 innings. Nastrini has been troubled by walks in the past, but the half-dozen allowed in a 9-2 loss, coupled with seven hits, including Bo Bichette’s third homer, was not what the Sox are looking for.

“He should feel comfortable enough to know he’s a big part of the future,” manager Pedro Grifol said before the game. “One start is not going to make or break his career here. I just want him to go out there, enjoy the moment, have some fun.”

Nastrini pitched a scoreless first inning, but there would be no fun after that, especially when the Jays scored seven in the second after two outs. In the third, he pitched around a leadoff walk to Cavan Biggio, but in the fourth, he walked Daulton Varsho and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Bichette singled, and center fielder Dominic Fletcher’s throw skipped beyond third baseman Zach Remillard’s reach, and two more runs scored.

After Nastrini walked Justin Turner, his night was done at 86 pitches — 47 for strikes. Eight of the nine runs he allowed were earned.

“He gave up four 0-2, 1-2 hits that he’s just got to get better at,” Grifol said. “It’s tough to get guys 0-2, 1-2 in this league, and when you do, you’ve got to put guys away.

“What I told him is this, he’s going to face these guys in five days [in Chicago]. That’s the schedule right now. So he’s got four days to adjust, make all the necessary adjustments.”

A 2021 fourth-round draft pick of the Dodgers acquired with Jordan Leasure in the trade for Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly, Nastrini made his debut against the Royals on April 15, allowing two runs in five innings. After walking five and allowing six runs in three innings to the Phillies six days later, he was sent back to Charlotte, where he’s 0-4 with a 5.86 ERA in six starts.

“Definitely not the way you map that one out,” Nastrini said. “I wasn’t getting ahead with my fastball and being in the zone with my off-speed. When they pick up on that, they’re going to get timely hits.”

Grifol didn’t think Nastrini was tipping his pitches. Nastrini said the pitch sequencing was fine, but not being able to throw his elevated fastball for strikes was costly.

“When you’re only pitching in the bottom half of the zone,” Nastrini said, “they’re looking in one spot. If you’re not changing their eye level, what are you going to do? They’re great hitters; they’re going to make adjustments and hit the ball when you throw the ball in one spot.”

DeLoach debut

Right fielder Zach DeLoach made his debut starting in right field, less than 24 hours after Charlotte manager Justin Jirschele informed him of his promotion, a door opened by Eloy Jimenez’s hamstring injury.

DeLoach, who was batting .263/.358/.343 with two homers in 38 games at Charlotte, was acquired from the Mariners with right-hander Prelander Berroa in an offseason trade for righty Gregory Santos.

His wife — who got the first phone call with the news — mother and brother made it from Dallas to Toronto on Tuesday and will follow him to Chicago on Thursday.

“It was kind of that, we’re here, we’ve arrived,” DeLoach, 25, said. “Also at the same time, continuing to work, trusting what I’m doing each day and mentally just staying locked in because these are the best players in the world. You’ve got to bring your A game every day.”

DeLoach walked in the ninth inning after going 0-for-3 with a strikeout against former Sox pitcher Chris Bassitt, who pitched seven innings of scoreless ball.

Clevinger all for extra day

Mike Clevinger, pushed to a Thursday start, welcomed the extra rest day. Clevinger felt good when the Padres went for a short stretch with six starters in 2022.

“Seven days is too long, you feel out of whack, but six days is ideal,” Clevinger said.

This and that

Brad Keller cleared waivers and elected free agency. Keller was designated for assignment Monday and replaced by Nastrini.

• Grifol said there are no immediate plans for former Braves starters Michael Soroka or Jared Shuster to join the rotation. Soroka (2„ scoreless innings) has tossed 6„ scoreless innings since going to the bullpen, and Shuster has a 2.00 ERA in relief.

• In Jimenez’s absence, Grifol said he’ll rotate players, in part to get Tommy Pham and Andrew Vaughn occasional breaks “off their feet.” Pham DH’d and homered.