Benintendi has been particularly woeful
MINNEAPOLIS — Whether he’s batting at the top or in the middle of the White Sox’ lineup, Andrew Benintendi has stuck out in the midst of the team’s overall struggles this season.
Benintendi, in the second year of the largest contract in franchise history — $75 million for five seasons — is last on the roster at minus-1.1 wins above replacement.
His range and arm in the outfield have been suspect, and his hitting (.167/.205/.190) is well below his .273/.344/.412 career mark over nine seasons.
“Obviously, it’s not going the way a lot of us want it to go,” Benintendi told the Sun-Times before the Sox fell to 3-21 with a 6-3 loss to the Twins at Target Field on Wednesday. “But long season, and it can turn with a bloop hit. That’s all it can take. Just have to keep showing up.”
Kevin Pillar and Korey Lee homered against Joe Ryan, but the Sox were held to four hits, including Benintendi’s double in the second inning.
It was Benintendi’s 14th hit of the season and only his second for extra bases.
“Just timing,” he said. “I have a few different stances I’m messing with, but in the end, just being on time [is the issue] and making solid contact.
“This is just one of those stretches that stinks to go through. I just have to trust. I’ve been through this before. I’m not pressing, but I want it to turn around quicker than that.”
Fly balls have found a way of falling a step or two out of Benintendi’s reach this series. There were two Wednesday: Christian Vazquez’s double in the seventh inning and Max Kepler’s RBI bloop between him and shortstop Paul DeJong in the fifth.
Benintendi got a poor jump, came in but didn’t call for it.
“I have to talk to both those guys and see why that play wasn’t made,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “It was over a 90% probability on that one, so that play has to be made. A ball hit that high, we have to make that play.”
The Sox, 11-42 in March and April under Grifol, have to win four in a row to avoid 2023’s 7-21 start in a 101-loss season. They lost their eighth in a row at Minnesota.
They’ve scored 53 runs in 24 games and are 0-6 on a trip that started in Philadelphia.
Crochet not so great
Left-hander Garrett Crochet hasn’t had a quality start or pitched past the fifth inning since he allowed two runs in 13 innings in the first two starts of his career.
Crochet allowed five runs, seven hits and two walks in four-plus innings in his sixth start. He struck out six but served up a threerun homer to Willi Castro in the second inning, when the Twins (10-13) built a 4-0 lead.
A surprise Opening Day starter who struck out 31 and walked four in his first four starts, Crochet will take a 6.37 ERA into his next outing.
“I feel like my stuff is electric,’’ Crochet said, ‘‘but I’m getting hit around. I’m kind of wondering why, so we have to get back to the drawing board. I’ve been predictable these last few weeks because of my plan of attack.”
This and that
John Brebbia made his 300th career appearance, allowing no runs in one inning in his first game since coming off the injured list.
† Outfielder Tommy Pham will play one more game at Triple-A Charlotte, then possibly join the Sox for their weekend series against the Rays at Guaranteed Rate Field.
† Braden Shewmake stole third base, then home on the front end of a double steal in the fifth inning.