BALTIMORE — Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas, shortstop Jacob Amaya and left fielder Andrew Benintendi headed toward the left-field line in pursuit of a high popup by Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Eloy Jiménez.
Amaya peeled away, but Vargas collided with Benintendi. The ball bounced away while three runs scored on the error charged to Vargas.
But of larger significance, Vargas remained down for a few moments following the sequence while being attended to by the Sox training staff.
Vargas remained in the game for one more batter before exiting with an abrasion on his right eye.
“I just felt it in my side, I think my shoulder hit him,” Benintendi said. “Something we work on all year. Just going back and watching it, he was tracking it the whole time, maybe didn’t hear me. I was calling it, it’s unfortunate, but it is what it is.”
That scary scene played out during a four-run second inning for the Orioles, who cruised to a 9-0 victory in front of 15,108 at Camden Yards.
It’s the 12th consecutive loss for the Sox, and the 109th of the season to extend the franchise record for defeats.
At 31-109, the Sox are 11 shy of tying the 1962 New York Mets (40-120) for the most losses in modern-day MLB history. They have 22 games remaining.
Interim manager Grady Sizemore said Vargas had “a pretty good scratch on his eye, so he’s getting it looked at right now.”
“We’ll see where he’s at,” Sizemore said. “Yeah, he took a pretty good shot.”
The Sox were down 7-0 after two innings Tuesday on the way to their 18th consecutive series loss.
They surrendered 18 hits in Monday’s 13-3 loss.
The Orioles remained hot early Tuesday, collecting four hits — including three doubles — during a three-run first inning.
Sox starter Nick Nastrini had control issues in the second, walking five batters in the inning.
Colton Cowser drew a bases-loaded walk, making it 4-0. The popup and collision followed, with the Orioles taking a commanding 7-0 lead.
“I can see Amaya backing off, he just must not have heard him,” Sizemore said. “Sometimes, that’s that kind of in-between ball where you have three guys going for it. Just got to communicate. That’s Benintendi’s ball. Hopefully, he’s OK. But we like for guys to try to do their best to communicate in those kinds of situations. Just unfortunate.”
Nastrini walked the next batter and exited. He allowed seven runs (four earned) on four hits with two strikeouts, six walks and two wild pitches in 1 2/3 innings.
“It’s pretty simple, I was bad,” Nastrini said. “You can’t spin it any other way. Breaking balls were up in the zone first inning. Tried to get them down in the second. They were down but they weren’t chasing. Got the fastball in there. Sprayed a couple. But you know, it just wasn’t good.”
He threw 72 pitches, 30 of which were strikes. The Sox walked nine batters for the fifth time this season.
A dispute on a strike call led to the first of two ejections in the sixth.
A 1-1 pitch that appeared to be high, according to MLB Statcast, was called a strike on Benintendi. Sizemore argued the call and was ejected by home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt.
“We want the right calls being made,” Sizemore said. “I thought there were, just the wrong calls were being made. For both teams. I just think there were balls that were being called strikes and strikes being called balls for both teams. And I get it, the game’s getting out of control. We’re down a lot. But our guys are still hitting. They’re not trying to give up their at-bats.
“Some tough calls for the last two days, for our pitchers and for our hitters. And I don’t care if the game is out of control or not, got to get the right call. That’s all.”
Benintendi got tossed following the at-bat, which ended with a called third strike.
“Obviously in a 9-0 game we’re all expected to keep playing, keep doing our job,” Benintendi said. “I expect nothing less from the umpires. A lot of guys have been biting their tongue this year on certain calls. It makes it hard to hit when guys are getting ball fours off the plate and balls above the zone, too.”
Orioles starter Cade Povich allowed five hits and struck out 10 in 7 1/3 innings.
The Sox were shut out for the 16th time this season and for the second time in their last three games (2-0 to the Mets on Sunday). They have been outscored 22-3 in the first two games of the series against the Orioles.
“Today just wasn’t our best day,” Sizemore said.
