The Chicago White Sox faced a setback in their game against the Cleveland Guardians, losing 8-2 at Rate Field on Friday. The team’s manager, Will Venable, encountered difficulties during the game that significantly impacted the outcome.

Early in the game, White Sox pitcher Noah Schultz loaded the bases, prompting a mound visit by pitching coach Zach Bove. Shortly after, the Guardians’ Angel Martinez hit a two-run single. Venable then approached the mound for a discussion regarding an appeal play, inadvertently violating a key rule.

Under official rule 5.10(l), a manager or coach is allowed only one visit to the mound per pitcher in a single inning without penalty. If a second visit occurs, the pitcher must be removed.

This oversight forced Venable to remove Schultz from the game, which was a costly mistake considering the team had played a 13-inning game the previous night that strained the bullpen. As a result, the relievers were forced to work an extra 8 2/3 innings.

David Sandlin, who replaced Schultz, had little preparation time and had to hastily stretch and warm up. Despite the unusual circumstances, Sandlin pitched 5 1/3 innings, managing 96 pitches. “I got a little extra time out there,” Sandlin said, describing his rushed preparation before taking the mound.

Venable expressed regret over his error, acknowledging the urgency to execute the appeal play led to forgetting the earlier visit. “It was an inexcusable mistake by me,” he admitted, reflecting on the situation.

This game marked the fourth consecutive loss for the White Sox, making them the last MLB team to have such a streak this season. They will attempt to recover in the next game of their series against the Guardians on Saturday evening.