Slugger Frazier says he’d love to hit leadoff
OAKLAND, Calif.— Manager Rick Renteria has used seven leadoff men in the White Sox’ first 83 games. Third baseman Todd Frazier wants to be No. 8. ‘‘ I would love to,’’ Frazier said. Leury Garcia ( 20 times), Tim Anderson ( 19), Tyler Saladino ( 16), Yolmer Sanchez ( eight), Alen Hanson ( eight), Melky Cabrera ( seven) and Adam Engel ( five) all have batted first, but Frazier has not. He might not be the worst option. His batting average is low (. 214), but he sees a lot of pitches, and his 43 walks have kept his onbase percentage at a respectable .332. Frazier led off a Little League World Series championship game with a home run and led off through high school and college, he said. He had 20, 13 and 15 stolen bases in the last three seasons and has four this season.
He also hit 40 homers last season and is on pace to hit 30 this season.
‘‘ I see [ the Cubs’ Anthony] Rizzo doing it, and I drool over that position,’’ Frazier said.
Frazier has batted fourth or fifth in all but five games he has played this season. He has hit .268 with seven homers, a .342 on- base percentage and a .606 slugging percentage leading off an inning this season.
‘‘ I wonder how they would pitch me,’’ Frazier said. ‘‘ Would they try to get that first- pitch fastball over? If they do, I’m ready. I’m going, ‘ You try and do that, and I’m swinging.’ The walks and my RBI might go down, but my average would go sky- high, in my opinion.’’
Renteria smiled when he was told Frazier wants to lead off and said he isn’t opposed to the idea.
‘‘ You know what? I might give him his wish,’’ Renteria said.
Kahnle falters in ninth
Closer David Robertson will return from a three- day paternity leave when the Sox play the Rockies this weekend in Denver. In the meantime, Tommy Kahnle is getting reacquainted with ninthinning duty.
Kahnle allowed a tiebreaking homer in the ninth to A’s rookie shortstop Franklin Barreto, who entered the game with a .176 average and one homer.
‘‘ I was really looking forward to it,’’ Kahnle said. ‘‘ I was ready. Nothing different about it. Just one pitch, and the ballgame was over.’’
Robertson’s wife, Erin, gave birth to a daughterMonday. It is the couple’s second child.
This and that
When catcher Omar Narvaez threw out the A’s Matt Chapman trying to steal second in the sixth, it was only the ninth time in 58 attempts the Sox had prevented a stolen base. Narvaez is 7- for- 28.
Right- hander Dane Dunning, who was acquired from the Nationals with more highly touted pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez in the trade for outfielder Adam Eaton, continues to impress at high- Class AWinston- Salem after being promoted from low- Class A Kannapolis.
Dunning allowed one run and four hits in six inningsMonday and has a 1.94 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 83„ innings this season.