White Sox' Andrew Benintendi: 'I'm way too good a hitter for this to continue'

No, White Sox manager Pedro Grifol is not giving up on Andrew Benintendi. And he will continue to play the struggling left fielder.

If in a couple of months Benintendi is still scuffling with the realm of his .188/.219/.271 batting line, Grifol acknowledged he may have to re-evaluate.

But for now, Grifol isn’t losing hope that Benintendi can get untracked.

Benintendi had a big opportunity to come through for the Sox in the ninth inning of their 8-6 loss Thursday to the Orioles. With runners on first and second with one out in the ninth inning and the winning run at the plate after trailing 8-2, he popped up a pitch from Craig Kimbrel to shortstop Gunnar Henderson. While Andrew Vaughn, the runner on second, retreated to the base, Henderson had to avoid him on his way to make the catch.

The umpires ruled infield fly to retire Benintendi, but third-base umpire Junior Valentine also ruled interference on Vaughn, even though several seconds passed between the time Henderson avoided Vaughn and made the catch.

It was a tough way to lose the game after a spirited comeback in the ninth.

“My batted ball profile is almost better than last year,” Benintendi told the Sun-Times. “You look at the numbers, I’m the one of unluckiest hitters in the league right now. The expected batting average (.251) and expected slug (.386) are significantly higher than what the numbers are showing right now.”

That said, Benintendi, who was 1-for-3 with a single, walk and two RBI in the Sox’ 8-2 loss to the Orioles Thursday, knows it’s a numbers-driven business. He’s going through the worst start of his nine-year career.

“This is the worst by far,” Benintendi said. “Definitely the longest stretch. I’ve been through stretches where you go for a week when you get one hit. At least I’m mixing a few in here and there. But I haven’t gone through a two-month stretch like this.”

Grifol said Benintendi “doesn’t have to play” just because he has the richest contract, $75 million over five years, signed by a Sox player. He is in the second year.

“It has nothing to do with the money, it has everything to do with what he’s done in his career,” Grifol said. “You just don’t give up on a player like that. Now, if it’s the All-Star break and he has 250-300 at-bats, what are you going to do.”

Reassess, perhaps. But the left fielder whom Grifol called a “pillar” in the lineup has his manager’s back for now.

With the bases loaded and two out in the first, Benintendi worked a walk against Grayson Rodriguez after falling behind 0-2 in the count. He slapped a single to center to drive in the Sox’ second run in the third, also with two out, giving him a team-high 17 RBI. He has made minor changes, standing more upright for one thing, to get more on top of the ball.

“You have to keep showing up,” Benintendi said. “I still think I’m way too good a hitter for this to continue. So it can only go up from here. It doesn’t feel like I’m hitting as bad as I am right now. Everybody sees the batting average. When you look deeper, there’s more to the story.”

The end

Vaughn didn’t interfere with Henderson intentionally.

“I know it was in infield fly,” Vaughn said. “Read it, started shuffling back and he kind of breezed by me on the right side.”

But rule 6.01(a) states a “runner who hinders a fielder on a batted ball is out whether it was intentional or not.”

Grifol said he had no issue with the call being made, but “I’m not good with the rule.”

“There doesn’t have to actually even be contact,” Valentine said. “If he hinders the fielder in the attempt to field a batted ball, intent is not required and it’s interference.

“If you see interference, you call it.”

Jimenez out 4-6 weeks

Eloy Jimenez’ left hamstring strain that landed him on the 10-day injured list Wednesday will keep him out of action for four to six weeks, general manager Chris Getz said.

Luis Robert continues to play games in the Arizona complex league, preparing for a minor league rehab assignment that should begin Tuesday. Robert will probably play out the rest of next week with Triple-A Charlotte and could join the Sox by June 1.

More of the same for Clevinger

Mike Clevinger allowed five runs on three walks and seven hits, including Jorge Mateo’s three-run homer. Clevinger (6.75 ERA) needed 98 pitches to go 4 2/3 innings for the third straight time.

“Kind of the same story, felt like I had A grade stuff through three innings but really one bad cutter to Mateo and we’re having a different conversation right now,” Clevinger said.

“I don’t want to make excuses, have to still go out there whether my stuff is ticking down or not, if I make that pitch on the outer half of the plate and he’s out and they only have two runs and I’m probably going out for maybe two more innings. One bad pitch, some little things I need to clean up.”