White Sox rookie right-hander Shane Smith is gaining respect around the majors with every start.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell, a straight shooter, directed some platitudes at Smith, whom he didn’t know much about, even though both were in the Brewers’ organization in 2023.
‘‘He’s off to a great start, and it’s real,’’ Counsell said before the Sox’ 13-3 loss Friday to the Cubs. ‘‘This is a tough pitcher. It’s good velocity, good fastball, pretty darn good changeup.’’
Smith allowed six runs (one earned) and seven hits with five strikeouts and one walk in five innings in his Wrigley Field debut. The bullpen allowed seven runs as the Sox (14-31) lost their sixth game in a row to the Cubs.
The Sox started strong when Miguel Vargas hit a two-run home run in the first, continuing a torrid stretch that also featured a solo shot in the third for his first multihomer game.
But everything unraveled in the second.
Smith allowed a leadoff single to Michael Busch and a ground-rule double to Carson Kelly. After he struck out Dansby Swanson on three pitches, the game got away from the Sox.
Moises Ballesteros reached on a fielder’s choice after first baseman Andrew Vaughn threw home on a grounder to nab Busch. But Busch made a great slide to evade the tag from catcher Matt Thaiss.
Then Nico Hoerner reached on a fielder’s choice after shortstop Chase Meidroth threw home on a grounder to nab Kelly, but Thaiss dropped the throw, tying the score.
‘‘That [play] changed the outcome,’’ Thaiss said. ‘‘Shane was throwing well. It sucks that we didn’t back him up. I gotta make that play, too. It spiraled from there.’’
Against a deep Cubs lineup, mistakes come back to bite you. Smith struck out Jon Berti for the second out but hung a slider in the heart of the zone on a full count to Pete Crow-Armstrong that Crow-Armstrong turned into a three-run homer to give a Cubs a 5-2 lead.
Kyle Tucker then jumped on a 1-1 slider for a triple to center. He scored when Seiya Suzuki ripped a first-pitch slider for a double. Busch came up again and struck out to end the inning.
‘‘I flushed it going into the third,’’ Smith said. ‘‘My job is to not throw two innings and pout and whine about it. I’ve got to go out there and try to throw five at least.’’
Smith wasn’t precise with his slider during that Cubs flurry. He said his execution of the pitch was inconsistent.
Overall, Smith delivered a strong start, as he has for most of the season. He has a 2.05 ERA in nine starts, the ninth-lowest by a Sox pitcher since Jerry Nyman in 1968-69.
‘‘My job is to pick up the infield when stuff doesn’t go their way,’’ Smith said. ‘‘What happens when the ball’s in play is not entirely up to me.’’
How Smith responded after the second to silence the Cubs’ offense says a lot about his unflappable demeanor.
‘‘It shows you how great he’s been all year and how he’s gonna continue to be great,’’ Thaiss said.