Andrew Benintendi's struggles at center of 3-21 White Sox woes

David Berding/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS — Whether he’s batting at the top or in the middle of the White Sox’ lineup, Andrew Benintendi has stuck out in the midst of the team’s overall struggles this season.

Benintendi, in the second year of the largest contract in franchise history — $75 million for five seasons — is last on the roster at minus-1.1 wins above replacement.

His range and arm in the outfield have been suspect, and his hitting (.167/.205/.190)is well below his .273/.344/.412 career mark over nine seasons.

“Obviously, it’s not going the way a lot of us want it to go,” Benintendi told the Sun-Times before the Sox fell to 3-21 with a 6-3 loss to the Twins at Target Field on Wednesday. “But long season, and it can turn with a bloop hit. That’s all it can take. Just have to keep showing up.”

Kevin Pillar and Korey Lee homered against Joe Ryan, but the Sox were held to four hits, including Benintendi’s double in the second inning.

It was Benintendi’s 14th hit of the season and only his second for extra bases.

“Just timing,” he said. “I have a few different stances I’m messing with, but in the end, just being on time [is the issue] and making solid contact.”

Fly balls have found a way of falling a step or two out of Benintendi’s reach this series. There were two against the Twins on Wednesday, Max Kepler’s RBI bloop between him and shortstop Paul DeJong in the fifth inning and Christian Vazquez’s double in the seventh.

And pitches have found a way to miss the barrel of his bat.

“This is just one of those stretches that stinks to go through,” Benintendi said. “You just have to trust. . . . I’ve been through this before. I’m not pressing, but I want it to turn around quicker than that.”

“Don’t think about power, just do the little things,” hitting coach Marcus Thames said. “When I’ve seen him at his best over his career, he’s just been a good hitter. I want him to get back to that and swing at his pitches.”

Benintendi, who had an .830 OPS for the Red Sox’ World Series championship team in 2018, was part of the Sox’ 7-21 start last season, but this one is the worst of his career.

“Nothing quite like this, not that I can remember,” he said. “But it’s baseball; anything can happen. Clubhouse is great; everybody is together.”

The Sox, who’ve scored 53 runs in 24 games, are 0-6 on a trip that started in Philadelphia.

Crochet not so great

Left-hander Garrett Crochet hasn’t had a quality start or pitched past the fifth inning since he allowed two runs in 13 innings in the first two starts of his career.

Crochet allowed five runs, seven hits and two walks in four innings in his sixth start. He struck out six but served up a three-run homer to Willi Castro in the second inning, when the Twins (10-13) built a 4-0 lead.

A surprise Opening Day starter who struck out 31 and walked four in his first four starts, Crochet (1-4) will take a 6.37 ERA into his next start.

This and that

John Brebbia made his 300th career appearance, allowing no runs in one inning in his first game since coming off the injured list Monday.

• Outfielder Tommy Pham will play one more game at Triple-A Charlotte, then possibly join the Sox for their weekend series against the Rays at Guaranteed Rate Field.