Arrighetti exits with foot injury after pitching one inning

CHICAGO -- Spencer Arrighetti’s first start after the All-Star break might have given the Astros some belief he was returning to the form that made him the American League Pitcher of the Month in May.

However, after just one inning and 33 pitches in Friday's game against the White Sox at Rate Field, that optimism was dashed.

Arrighetti began to warm up to start the second inning when he signaled for a trainer, then exited before throwing another pitch. Right-hander AJ Blubaugh replaced him. The Astros announced that he departed with right foot nerve irritation.

The 26-year-old struggled with command in the opening frame, issuing two walks and hitting a pair of batters as the White Sox sent nine batters to the plate, darting out to a 3-run lead. Arrighetti walked 10 across nine innings in his last two starts and has a 24.6% walk rate since June 3.

He allowed a single and back-to-back walks to start the game. A two-out single and consecutive hit batters plated another pair of runs. Arrighetti finally escaped the early jam by inducing a popup from White Sox catcher Drew Romo, the No. 9 hitter.

Arrighetti had bounced back after a porous June and early July (0-4, 8.74 ERA in seven starts) with five innings of one-run ball in his first start after the All-Star break on Saturday. That all came after he had a 0.93 ERA in five starts in May, en route to taking home the AL Pitcher of the Month Award.