Renteria ejected for fifth time
Rick Renteria is on a roll. For getting thrown out of games, that is.
The White Sox’ manager was ejected by home- plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt during the sixth inning against the Yankees on Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. It was his fifth ejection of the season and third in the last six games.
While reliever Jake Petricka was giving up five runs in the inning, including two on Aaron Judge’s rocket- shot homer to left field, Renteria was being thrown out, presumably about balls and strikes. However, Renteria seemed to be saying he wasn’t disputing balls and strikes.
Petricka finished the inning but also was ejected for the first time in his career when it was over.
Bench coach Joe McEwing took over to manage the last 3 ½ innings.
Garcia leaves with sore knee
Avisail Garcia left the game with a sore left knee after four plate appearances. Garcia also was struck by a pitch on the right hand by Masahiro Tanaka.
Garcia went 0- for- 2 with a walk, extending his hitless streak to a season- high five games. The Sox’ top All- Star candidate is 1- for- 23 in his previous five games.
“Actually, they’re making some adjustments with Avi,’’ manager Rick Renteria said. “He’s probably trying to continue to do what he’s been doing from the beginning of the season, but he also has to take a step back, regroup and understand they’re trying to do different things to him and continue to be patient, and he’ll be fine.’’
Sanchez all over the place
Yolmer Sanchez, who has hit in all nine positions in the Sox’ batting order this season ( although not starting at Nos. 3, 4 or 5), led off for the eighth time Wednesday. Sanchez has started in the second spot seven times, in the sixth spot five times, seventh 21 times, eighth two times and ninth 17 times.
“I don’t see a difference,’’ Sanchez said. “You just lead off in the first inning, then you don’t know what spot you’re going to hit. Mentally it’s a little different, but I do know leading off if I get on base it’s important because Melky [ Cabrera] and Pito [ Jose Abreu] are behind me capable of driving me in with a double or homer.’’
Right on, Q
After Jose Quintana pitched 6„ scoreless innings against the Yankees on Tuesday for his fifth strong start in as many outings, catcher Kevan Smith said “he’s back.’’
“He just had all of his pitches,’’ Smith said. “He could throw all of them for strikes. He had confidence with each pitch.’’
Smith and Quintana were on the same page on pitch selection. But the key was Quintana executing his fastball, a sharp curve and improving his changeup.
“When he’s hitting his spots and he’s working both sides of the plate with his offspeed, he’s unhittable,’’ Smith said. “It’s certainly been fun catching him these last two starts.’’
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