Other than a win, the White Sox got a lot of what they wanted Saturday.
Noah Schultz started against the Nationals, and a big crowd was expected at Rate Field because of a windbreaker giveaway.
Schultz pitched well in front of the largest crowd of the season. The only issue, albeit
a fleeting one, was that the Sox’ offense was mostly quiet in a 6-3, 10-inning loss against the Nationals.
In front of an announced crowd of 35,174 — the team’s biggest in an April non-home opener since April 29, 2007 — the Nationals scored four times in the 10th to snap the Sox’ brief two-game winning streak.
The Sox’ offensive struggles, partially caused by shadows from the 3:10 p.m. start, don’t have the long-term implications of every Schultz outing. Nor does the lineup going 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and Andrew Benintendi and Munetaka Murakami going hitless in 10 at-bats with six strikeouts.
“There [were] a couple of comments I did hear [about the shadows],” Sox manager Will Venable said. “It’s a problem on both sides if it is a problem at all. You have to find a way to battle the elements there with the shadows and do whatever you can to put the ball in play.”
What mattered the most was Schultz continuing to get acclimated to life on a big-league mound.
Schultz wasn’t perfect, he allowed four walks and Colson Montgomery saved two runs with a diving play to end the third inning, but the very tall left-hander kept the Sox in the game. He struck out eight and got 10 swings and misses, throwing 85 pitches.
“He just looks more and more comfortable,” Venable said. “I don’t think that confidence is ever an issue for him. He’s a very confident guy. Each one of these starts we see the confidence grow in his ability to be effective in the zone. When he’s not effective in the zone, he gets back in the zone.”
Through three starts, Schultz has looked like a long-term anchor of the rotation. He has made progress since his debut, but each start is a new experience with new lessons to learn.
“Just going about my business, going about every day with how I do stuff throughout the day,” Schultz said. “Going through a game plan and scouting the guys. A lot of things that I wish I improved on today, but at the end of the day, things that I definitely need to work on.”
Like other pitchers, Schultz will have days when his stuff isn’t the sharpest. On Saturday, his four-seam fastball averaged 94.2 mph, down from the 95.8 against the Athletics in his last start and well below his season average of 96.4.
Other than Nasim Nunez’s two-run single in the fourth, the Nationals couldn’t take advantage.
“He’s got a lot of weapons, a lot of different ways to get guys out,” Venable said of Schultz. “That’s the great thing about Noah, he’s in tune with his stuff and his weapons. When one thing’s not working, he’s able to pivot and find different ways to attack hitters.”
Schultz used five pitches Saturday, even mixing in two changeups to go with his usual power repertoire.
“That’s what’s special about Noah,” Venable said. “He understands his skill set. He understands how to attack hitters different ways. Just a guy who, for a young guy, feels very polished.”