In a tough outing for the White Sox, pitcher Shane Smith faced a difficult challenge against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, surrendering six runs and six hits over 4⅔ innings, resulting in a 6-1 defeat. After the game, a disappointed Smith reflected on his performance, expressing frustration over allowing two early walks that he felt undermined his chances of helping his team succeed.
The 25-year-old rookie had shown promise earlier in the season, boasting a 3-3 record and a 2.37 ERA through the first half of June. However, in his last three appearances, Smith has struggled considerably, yielding 16 earned runs across 11 innings, leading to an elevated ERA of 3.86.
“I have a lot to learn, and I’m learning every day,” Smith admitted, acknowledging the setbacks he faced during the game. He retired two previous MVPs, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, before hitting a rough patch after two consecutive walks to Will Smith and Max Muncy. This opened the floodgates, as the Dodgers capitalized by scoring four runs in the first inning, with hits from Teoscar Hernandez, Andy Pages, and Michael Conforto.
Pages, who has been enjoying success this season, made Smith pay for a poorly executed pitch with an impressive RBI double, which exemplified Smith’s struggle to bounce back from early mistakes. Despite the challenges, he maintains a focus on improvement and overcoming this rough stretch.
On a brighter note for the White Sox organization, High-A Winston-Salem infielder Sam Antonacci earned recognition as the Sox minor-league player of the month for June, backed by a strong .286 batting average and notable performance metrics. Also, Single-A Kannapolis right-hander Luis Reyes was honored as the pitcher of the month, showing resilience with an impressive 0.28 ERA over his last six starts.
Left-handed pitcher Jared Shuster has started his rehabilitation stint at Triple-A Charlotte after being sidelined due to a blister, offering hope for the team’s pitching depth as they navigate through rough patches. The journey of growth and resilience continues for both Smith and the White Sox farm system, suggesting a hopeful future ahead for the franchise.