BOSTON — That bit of steam the White Sox had picked up two weeks ago when they beat the Yankees at Guaranteed Rate Field to rech the .500 mark has left the building. Since then the Sox are 2-7 and with a high right ankle sprain that will send Tim Anderson to the injured list, the Sox are just trying get to the All-Star break in 12 days without getting buried.
Anderson hurt the ankle fielding a ground ball during the fifth inning of the Sox’ 6-3 loss to the Red Sox Tuesday. On the play, he ranged to his left while throwing across his body to first base, his right foot planted on the infield dirt. Anderson, the April Player of the Month in the American League and one of the Sox’ most productive hitters, is expected to be out until after the All-Star break.
“In terms of how long we don’t know,” manager Rick Renteria said Wednesday while Anderson was away from Fenway Park getting an MRI.
Renteria also lost his third baseman, Yoan Moncada, in the top of the first inning Wednesday afternoon. Moncada, batting right-handed against lefty Chris Sale, was hit by a pitch on the right knee. He stayed in the game long enough to go from first to third on Jose Abreu’s 200th career double, but then left in favor of pinch runner Yolmer Sanchez.
Anderson was in the visitors clubhouse in a walking boot before that, hours before the Sox were to conclude a three-game series against the hot Red Sox (five-game winning streak) and left-hander Chris Sale.
The official move to the IL for Anderson will probably be made Friday. Leury Garcia, who has played center field most of the season, will take over as the primary shortstop for the time being.
“Right now I’m looking to use Leroy there for a little bit,” Renteria said. “He’s very capable of playing shortstop and it might give him a little break — his legs are barking a little bit, it might help him out a little on the infield. We’ll be able to use [Ryan] Cordell and Tilly [Charlie Tilson] in the outfield. That’s the adjustment we’ll make in the moment.”
Jose Rondon and Yolmer Sanchez — who was available and feeling better after missing the game Tuesday with 103-degree fever — can also play shortstop so there was no need to bring up Alcides Escobar from Charlotte, Renteria indicated.
There will be a need to bring up a pitcher to start against the AL Central leading Twins Friday. With Dylan Covey and Manny Banuelos on the injured list, the Sox are two men short in the rotation. Ivan Nova (Saturday) and Lucas Giolito (Sunday) were pushed back a day in the rotation, creating the opening for Friday.
With off days Monday and Friday next week, Giolito could face the Cubs at home next Saturday and have two consecutive starts with an extra day.
“It’s just managing him over the course of the season,’’ Renteria said. “Coop [pitching coach Don Cooper] has done a nice job of making sure some of our primary guys, if he can get them an extra day, he will. [Giolito] has actually taken on quite a load early on. He has thrown quite a few innings, got up there in pitch counts. It’s the wise thing to do.”
The Sox (36-41), who have lost four in a row, are in the midst of a 15-game stretch against playoff contenders. After the Twins this weekend, the schedule softens when they host the Tigers. After that, it’s two games at home against the Cubs before the All-Star break.
