Danks roughed up early, recovers, but still loses 14th
BY DARYL VAN SCHOUWEN Staff Reporter September 18, 2013 8:57PM
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Updated: September 18, 2013 11:37PM
Say this for left-hander John Danks: After getting peppered for four runs and seven hits in the first two innings, he adjusted — and executed — and retired the last 16 batters he faced.
It didn’t prevent him from falling to 4-14, the worst record for a White Sox pitcher since 1968, but it was something to take away before his last start of the season.
“From the third inning on, that’s what I hope to be from this point on — a ground-ball machine that’s throwing strikes and working quick and getting our guys back up to the plate as soon as possible,’’ Danks said. “There’s plenty of things to work on. I know what they are.’’
The Twins were sitting on Danks’ off-speed stuff early, and he didn’t do himself any favors by elevating a few. When he went to his fastball more, he cruised. The Twins didn’t have a hit after the second inning against Danks (4.75 ERA) and rookie Daniel Webb.
In ’68, Cisco Carlos also had a .222 winning percentage.
One more for Santiago
Manager Robin Ventura said left-hander Hector Santiago will get one more start. Andre Rienzo, Chris Sale and Erik Johnson are slated to face the Tigers in Detroit this weekend, but Ventura didn’t rule out Santiago jumping in, raising the possibility that one of the aforementioned trio will get an extra day.
This and that
Jordan Danks, who was 7-for-24 with a double, home run and four RBI on the homestand, drove in two runs with a single.
† Alejandro De Aza’s home run was his 16th, the most by a Sox leadoff hitter since Ray Durham, who also had 16 from the leadoff spot (20 overall) in 2001. De Aza is second on the team behind Adam Dunn (32).
† Avisail Garcia was expected back, but the 22-year-old rookie missed a fourth day on paternity leave. His wife, Anakarina, gave birth to the couple’s first child, Annarella, on Monday.
