CINCINNATI -- Jose Abreu was not in the White Sox starting lineup for Tuesday's 12-8 win over the Reds after he exited Monday's game in the seventh inning. Abreu fouled a ball off his left ankle in an at-bat in the sixth inning.
However, Abreu did pinch-hit for Joakim Soria in the top of the 11th inning, recording a groundout to second base.
White Sox manager Rick Renteria said an X-ray on Abreu's ankle came back negative and that it was Renteria's decision to keep him out of the lineup as a precaution, noting he'd fouled a couple of balls off the same area of his left ankle in recent weeks.
"He fought me tooth and nail to keep him in the lineup," Renteria said. "We need the fluid to get out of there and not be something that lingers. He is good enough to where he could probably play, but I don't want to force him to move around so much that it continues to swell."
Renteria said Abreu fights him against taking days off more than any player he has ever managed.
"That is a good thing for him and a bad thing for me, because I have to stand my ground," he said. "I have to be the voice of reason."
Renteria said there is a good chance Abreu will be in the lineup on Wednesday.
Garcia dealing with hamstring tightness
Avisail Garcia told the coaching staff he is experiencing tightness in his right hamstring and is playing through it. Renteria said Garcia is healthy enough to play, but that they've been closely monitoring him making sure he stays hydrated and gets the necessary treatment on the hamstring on a daily basis.
"All I ask him to do, to be honest, is pull back on the reins a little bit when you're coming out of the box," Renteria said. "I don't want you to hurt yourself. Do what you can. He's a big man, so once he gets going, he feels pretty good when he's moving. It's the starts and stops, like anything. I think he can manage it. He's obviously playing through it."
Garcia went to the 10-day disabled list in April after straining the same hamstring.
Engel gets hit in front of hometown fans
Reds first baseman Joey Votto was a little confused at the applause from the crowd when White Sox center fielder Adam Engel hit a single to left field in the top of the seventh inning in Monday's 5-3 loss to Cincinnati.
"I get to first base and Joey, a guy I have watched growing up, was like 'You from around here?' And I said yes," Engel recalled. "I wasn't at first base long, because [James] Shields bunted right after that, but it was a really cool experience."
Engel is from Loveland, just northeast of Cincinnati proper, and has enjoyed playing in front of a large hometown crowd as well as sleeping at his house. Engel was notified last season by a White Sox travel secretary that the club would be making a trip to Cincinnati during the 2018 season, and he's been looking forward to it ever since.
"Sleeping in my own bed every night has been awesome and playing in front of people I know has been a cool experience," Engel said.