Nick Nastrini pitches six innings of one-run ball, but White Sox (31-104) lose seventh straight (2024)

Right-hander Nick Nastrini was back, and in a good way.

Can you stand a positive development for the White Sox, who lost their seventh consecutive game Thursday to fall to 31-104?

In the Sox’ 2-1 loss to the Rangers before an announced crowd of 10,420 (tickets sold), Nastrini pitched six innings of one-run ball. He allowed three hits and one walk and struck out three in his return from Triple-A Charlotte. The Sox need to build a rotation for next season and beyond, and Nastrini (0-6) hasn’t distinguished himself as a candidate since he was acquired from the Dodgers in a trade last season for Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly.

But he was very good against Texas on the heels of four good outings at Charlotte. Nastrini retired the first 10 Rangers he faced before Corey Seager hit his 30th home run, the 200th of his career, in the fourth inning.

It was Nastrini’s seventh start for the Sox but first since June 8, a 2½-month reboot at Charlotte preceding this one after his ERA had ballooned to 8.39. He wasn’t great at Charlotte, but in his last four starts, he had a 2.45 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 18„ innings.

Mechanical tweaks and chats with Dominic Leone at Charlotte and the Sox’ team psychologist all factored in Nastrini’s recent good run, but he knows this was only one start.

“It’s huge to go out there and have an outing like that,” he said. “But mentally, things can’t change. You have to be a strong-minded person regardless of if you’re down in the dumps pitching or pitching really well. You can’t really ride the wave. That’s how the waves get really, really big or really, really high.”

Nathan Eovaldi (10-7) rode an even higher wave, holding the Sox to one hit, a single by Gavin Sheets leading off the fifth, over seven innings.

Andrew Benintendi’s 15th homer with one out in the ninth against Kirby Yates avoided a 15th shutout. It was the Sox’ third hit.

Now, back to reality

The Sox were swept for the 21st time this season.

They need to go 12-15 in their last 27 games to avoid tying the 1962 Mets’ (40-120) record for losses. They have nine games against teams with losing records, three against the Athletics (58-76) and six against the Angels (55-79), but every other team is in postseason contention, including the Mets, who visit for a three-game series that starts Friday.

The defending World Series champion Rangers (63-71), who are out of contention, completed a 7-0 season sweep and are 12-1 against the Sox since last season.

The Sox are two losses from tying the club record set by the 1970 club (56-106) and could do it before September. On pace for 124.8 losses and with a run differential of minus-238, they are enduring the second-worst 135-game start ever.

This and that

• Infielder Brooks Baldwin, who was wearing a brace, was unavailable with soreness in his right hand.
• Left-hander Sammy Peralta was optioned to Charlotte to make room for Nastrini on the active roster.