Struggling Covey hurts oblique in loss
PHOENIX— Rookie righthander Dylan Covey exited the White Sox’ 5- 4 loss Tuesday to the Diamondbacks in the third inning with soreness in his left oblique. He will be re- evaluated Wednesday, the team said.
‘‘ We’ll check it tomorrow,’’ manager Rick Renteria said. ‘‘ Hopefully nothing too lingering.’’ The Sox trailed 4- 3 at the time. Chris Beck, Gregory Infante, DavidHolmberg and Tommy Kahnle combined to pitch 5⅔ innings of one- run ball in relief.
Covey ( 0- 4), who was a Rule 5 draft choice in the offseason, has struggled in his eight starts. He gave up four runs and five hits in 2⅓ innings against the Diamondbacks, including home runs to Jake Lamb and Chris Hermann, raising his ERA to 8.12.
Sox power
Jose Abreu hit his 100th career homer, a solo shot in the eighth against Jorge De La Rosa. Melky Cabrera and Todd Frazier homered against D- backs starter Patrick Corbin, stretching the Sox’ streak to nine games ( and 12 of the last 13) with at least one homer. But the Sox ( 20- 24) fell to 3- 6 on their 10- game road trip, which ends Wednesday afternoon.
Avisail Garcia fighting flu
The Sox’ best offensive performer, Avisail Garcia, was an early scratch with flulike symptoms, but he pinch- hit in with runners on second and third and one out in the eighth and the Sox trailing 5- 4. He was walked intentionally to load the bases.
J. J. Hoover then struck out pinch hitter Omar Narvaez and Yolmer Sanchez, who had gone into the game in right field on a double switch. It was the first outfield appearance of Sanchez’s career, and he immediately made a play on Lamb’s routine fly ball.
Anderson struggles with glove
The Sox played an error- free game after Tim Anderson made his 10th error Monday, this one on a throw to home. It’s a trend that has some watching the Sox’ highly regarded second- year shortstop with added scrutiny.
Renteria, for one, is downplaying the number of errors, saying Anderson’s issues are ‘‘ very correctable.’’’
‘‘ A lot of the . . . throwing errors have to do with the stability of his feet,’’ Renteria said. ‘‘ He’s a little flat-flooted. We saw him the second half of last year with a little more consistent ability to finish the play, especially moving his feet.
‘‘ Very correctable.’’
Putnam throws off mound; Shields next
Right- hander Zach Putnam threw off a mound for the first time since going on the disabled list with elbow inflammation. Right- hander James Shields ( lat) will throw off a mound Wednesday for the first time since going on the DL.
‘‘ I’m not going to say it was fantastic and it feels brand- new, but it certainly doesn’t feel bad,’’ Putnam said.
‘‘ So no setbacks. We are going to continue to build.’’
Saladino, Konerko sightings
Tyler Saladino was 1- for- 5 in his return to the starting lineup at second base. Saladino, who has been dealing with minor back soreness, hadn’t played since last Tuesday.
Former Sox star Paul Konerko was a visitor on the field before the game.