Madrigal, Encarnación depart with injuries

August 5th, 2020

The White Sox continue to post victories, extending their winning streak to six games via a 3-2 win over the Brewers on Tuesday at Miller Park. But they also continue to lose key players to injury.

On the same day left-hander Carlos Rodón was placed on the 10-day injured list with left shoulder soreness, second baseman Nick Madrigal (the club's No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) and designated hitter Edwin Encarnación each departed early from the victory over Milwaukee. Madrigal exited in the bottom of the third after sliding awkwardly and suffering what was described by the team as an injured left shoulder in the top half of the frame.

Madrigal opened the inning with a single to right off of Brandon Woodruff, then tried to go first to third on Luis Robert’s single to center. But Milwaukee center fielder Avisaíl García, a one-time White Sox right fielder, threw out Madrigal at third. In the process, Madrigal planted his left hand palm-first and had it turn awkwardly before he walked off the field in obvious discomfort.

“I know he was holding his wrist. I thought the same thing when he was coming off, and it was his shoulder. He jammed his shoulder,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “He went feet first. Came around there pretty hard, ended up jamming his shoulder, so he irritated it. Right now, he's just got some left shoulder soreness, which is the same for Eddie Encarnación. They'll be re-evaluated tomorrow, and we'll see where they're at.”

Encarnación reached base via an infield hit in the fourth but winced when he made contact. The veteran was checked by the White Sox training staff in between innings, and Zack Collins pinch-hit for him in the sixth.

Shortstop Tim Anderson (strained right groin), right-handed pitcher Reynaldo López (right shoulder soreness) and Jimmy Lambert (right forearm strain) are already out of action, with Lambert being moved to the 45-day injured list. Yoán Moncada, Nomar Mazara and Eloy Jiménez previously missed time during the 2020 season, but the White Sox continue moving forward.

“We just have to focus on the task at hand, which is coming to the ballpark, preparing our bodies and our minds to play a big league game and win,” said Lucas Giolito, who earned the victory Tuesday. “It sucks seeing guys go down, definitely.

“But it's not a thing where us as players are going to panic. We've just got to let our guys get right. Our training staff, medical staff is amazing. They've just got to get in there, get right and we keep chugging along. We have a lot of good help coming from [the alternate training site in] Schaumburg, as well. We just keep doing what we can do to stay on the field.”