Lessons learned from the series defeat against Houston Astros

It’s been more than a month since the Chicago White Sox won a series.

That dry spell continued Thursday after a sloppy seventh inning contributed to a 5-3 loss to the Houston Astros in front of 14,435 spectators at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The Sox took a 3-1 lead into the seventh inning after starter Chris Flexen pitched six solid innings. RBI singles by Jose Altuve (off reliever Steven Wilson) and Yordan Alvarez (off Tanner Banks) tied the score. The Astros took the lead by scoring on a throwing error by third baseman Lenyn Sosa and scored another run when Jeremy Peña drew a walk against Justin Anderson with the bases full.

“We missed one today,” said manager Pedro Grifol.

The Sox, who lost two of three games to the Astros, have not won a series since winning two of three games against the Washington Nationals on May 14 (doubleheader) and May 15 at home. They are 0-9-1 in their last 10 series and have won just four all season.

Here are four more takeaways from the three games in the Guaranteed Rate Field.

1st starter Chris Flexen showed that he can get back on his feet.

After allowing six runs (four earned) on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, Flexen said, “That’s one I’m going to try to wash away.”

He rebounded on Thursday, allowing one run on five hits with six strikeouts and three walks in six innings against the Astros.

“It was mostly a fight here and there,” Flexen said of his 2024. “I was able to deliver a good result today, especially after the last one. Definitely a step forward.”

Flexen has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his last 10 starts, going 1-3 with a 4.99 ERA. The run he allowed on Thursday came on a home run by Alvarez in the first inning.

The Astros had two runners on base in the third, fourth and fifth innings but were unable to score.

“Flexen had a few problems here and there, but for the most part kept us in the game,” said Grifol. “Gave us a chance to win today, but couldn’t capitalize on it.”

Photos: Houston Astros 5, Chicago White Sox 3

2. Garrett Crochet navigates trading speculation.

Crochet learns how to survive a season as a new major league starter and how to navigate transfer speculation.

The left-hander, who is having an All-Star season, is one of many Sox players mentioned in transfer rumors.

When asked about discussions with general manager Chris Getz regarding any updates on the matter, Crochet said Wednesday, “Honestly, I haven’t talked about it.”

Crochet continues to show why he is featured in transfer rumours, knocking out eight players and letting one go in Wednesday’s 4-1 defeat.

Crochet allowed three runs on nine hits, a season high, but still made his 10th good start (sixth in a row). He has a 1.50 ERA in nine starts since May 1.

“Look at (Wednesday), after pitch 85, he’s still at 96-97 (mph), his cutter is still at 92-94,” Grifol said Thursday morning. “Not only does he have what it takes, he keeps it the whole game. What’s spectacular to me is that as a No. 1 starter, you have to understand how to be a starter and you have to understand what you’re supposed to do, which is take the ball in the first inning and be there in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

“To do this, you have to use the throws sparingly and minimize the damage, and he understands that at a high level. And he understood it really quickly.”

3. A “simple” decision was made to let Jonathan Cannon attempt a full game.

Grifol thought it was an “easy” decision to let Cannon return for the ninth inning on Tuesday.

“Why?” Grifol said on Wednesday. “Because you have to capture these moments of development.”

Cannon was one hit away from a complete-game shutout in the 2-0 win, retiring the first two batters in the ninth inning before allowing two consecutive singles and leaving the game.

Cannon allowed seven hits and struck out four in 8 2/3 innings, the longest outing by a Sox rookie since Zach Stewart threw a shutout at Minnesota on Sept. 5, 2011.

After eight shots, he had 93 shots and finished the game with 106. Grifol said a manager must be clear about whether his behavior was irresponsible and reckless.

“And it wasn’t,” Grifol said. “Nineteen pitches in the first inning, averaged 10 or 12 pitches the rest of the game, a clean eighth inning, felt strong, looked strong, wanted to be out there, had never done that before. (The Astros) won a championship a couple years ago, a (chance for a) shutout in nine innings.

“The decision is really simple. It may look a little difficult, but it’s really simple.”

4. Luis Robert Jr. “is trying to find that rhythm.”

The center fielder had two hits on Wednesday and an RBI double on Thursday. Since returning from the injured list on June 4, he is 10-for-53 (.189) with five home runs and seven RBIs.

“There were games, at-bats, where I felt good, even if the results weren’t so good,” Robert said Thursday through an interpreter. “There were other games or at-bats where I didn’t feel so good. I kept up and worked hard. I tried to get into that rhythm.”

The Sox as a whole are trying to do the same. They have lost 26 of their last 32 games and are off to their worst 76-game start in franchise history at 20-56 (previously 25-51, set in 1934 and tied in 2018).

“It’s always difficult no matter how you lose a game,” said Robert. “But I also know that we all try to do our best. We haven’t managed to find that consistency.”