Sox collect more hits, but results not there yet

MINNEAPOLIS -- Headed into Thursday's game, the White Sox ranked last in the American League with 561 hits on the season.

They also rank last in runs scored with 250. But when it comes to a lack of offense, questions about the effectiveness of the hitting coach start to crop up -- in Chicago's case, Jeff Manto.

"When it goes like this, you look at me too," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "I see what Jeff's doing and I'm behind him, just because I know how hard he works and what he's putting into it.

"At any point, that's just part of the game."

The White Sox are 1-5 in the first six games of a 10-game road trip -- outscored 27-21 in that stretch. But while the hits have come later in the games, the losses can't be blamed on a lack of them -- regardless of whatever criticism the Sox offense may face.

In those six games, Chicago outhit its opponents, 51-49, and lost three of those games by one run. All in all, the White Sox just haven't been able to convert on the offense they do produce.

"We're consistent with what we're doing and what we'd like to see," Ventura said. "At some point, it's frustrating for them too. The results aren't there. The players are just as frustrated as anyone else. You want that feel and get it going in the right direction."