Watching their defending American League Central champions blow a 5-0 lead before striking out 11 times in the final four innings of regulation Saturday was enough for a convincing contingent of White Sox fans.
Chants of “Fire Tony” resonated for 20 seconds after the Rangers’ Brad Miller drew a walk in the top of the 10th inning following a tie-breaking single by Ezequiel Duran and passed ball by Reese McGuire.
The chants turned to boos shortly after Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa pulled reliever Matt Foster and before Marcus Semien hit a two-run single for the clinching blow in an 11-9 loss that dropped the Sox six games behind the division-leading Twins.
The loss was the third in the last four games for the Sox, whose fans have become more restless with their sub-.500 performance and with La Russa, who is aware of the discontent.
“Well, I hear it with one ear, and I see it with one eye,” La Russa said. “I appreciate they want us to win, and when we don’t win they’re unhappy. I’m pleased that they are, you know?
“We have the team we have to win, and we’re losing games. Nobody in that clubhouse, including the manager and coaches, is happy. I like it when (the fans) care enough to be upset.”
La Russa, whose decision Thursday to intentionally walk Trea Turner with a 1-2 count was foiled when Max Muncy hit a three-run homer in an 11-9 loss to the Dodgers, accepted being the target of the fans’ ire.
“I’ve said before, I learned you’re accountable for everything, right?” La Russa said. “Anything that is happening with this team, in the end, I’m responsible for, so… and you figure that out.
“If you don’t like the record (27-30), it’s my responsibility. If you don’t like the moves? Whatever is it. I’ve never have dodged accountability, and I won’t start now.”
Two days after Dylan Cease blew a 4-0 lead, Lucas Giolito accepted blame for his fifth-inning meltdown in which Adolis Garcia hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run rally.
“I’m disgusted in myself,” said Giolito, who retired eight consecutive batters before his debacle started. “That’s all I can really say. I go out and perform like I know I can, and we’re talking a lot differently right now.”
To compound matters, catcher Yasmani Grandal left in the bottom of the third due to left hamstring tightness. Grandal will re-examined Sunday, but Carlos Perez is the leading candidate to be promoted from Triple-A Charlotte to at least provide insurance.
Another reliever might be promoted in the wake of Giolito’s five-inning stint. Jimmy Lambert pitched 2 2/3 innings of one-hit relief after Davis Martin and Kendall Graveman weren’t available after pitching Friday, and left-hander Aaron Bummer hasn’t pitched since Tuesday.
The loss overshadowed a 2-for-5 performance by Jake Burger, who hit a homer and is batting .346 over his last 14 games.
The Sox collected 12 hits in the first five innings off left-hander Martin Perez, who entered the game with a 1.56 ERA. But they couldn’t solve four Rangers relievers, led by left-hander Matt Moore, who struck out five in the eighth and ninth.
“(The fans) have a right to voice their opinion,” Burger said. “They are coming to the game, and they can say whatever they want. I know this clubhouse is a family and we are going to stick together no matter what.
“You can have outside opinions, but this clubhouse is tight and it’s a family.”
