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ARLINGTON, Texas \u2014 It\u2019s been a whirlwind of a week for right-hander Aaron Civale.<\/p>\n
He was taken out of the Brewers\u2019 rotation, requested a trade and saw that request granted two days later when he was dealt to the Sox.<\/p>\n
You can add his new manager, Will Venable, getting his second career ejection in the first inning to the list.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny time the manager goes and fights with the players, that\u2019s an awesome sign,\u201d said Civale, who threw five innings and allowed two runs on six hits. \u201cWhen you have each other\u2019s backs, that\u2019s how you know you\u2019re in a good position and the culture\u2019s good. When you\u2019re fighting for each other, that\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Sox were swept following Sunday\u2019s 2-1 loss to the Rangers. They are on a five-game losing streak and a season-low 26 games under .500.<\/p>\n
Venable\u2019s quick toss was surprising for the reserved manager. But Venable reached his breaking point following a ball call from home plate umpire Marvin Hudson in Civale\u2019s at-bat against shortstop Corey Seager that turned it into a 3-2 count, instead of a strikeout.<\/p>\n
Venable quickly left the dugout and got in the face of Hudson to voice his displeasure. The two engaged in a back-and-forth shouting match, escalating to where the veins in Venable\u2019s neck were popping out.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was early frustration, you could call it,\u201d Venable said. \u201cAnd obviously, you saw what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the MLB.com strike zone, Hudson made the right call as the ball was outside the zone, but Venable disagreed.<\/p>\n
Venable has earned praise from his players for his steadiness and positive disposition. He\u2019s communicative and as a nine-year MLB veteran, he understands the grind of being a player. On Sunday, he took up for his players more demonstratively.<\/p>\n
But Venable\u2019s ejection didn\u2019t ignite a listless Sox offense. Offensively, the Sox (23-49) didn\u2019t put up much of a fight and struggled to cash in with runners in scoring position (1-for-9).<\/p>\n
With Ryan Noda on first with one out in the seventh, Josh Rojas singled to put runners on the corners. Rojas then tried stealing second and was caught stealing. Mike Tauchman was called out on strikes to end the inning.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re making a move, one \u2014 expecting to steal the base successfully,\u201d Venable said. \u201cIt was just one of those plays where we had a little something on the pitcher. [I] thought it was a good opportunity to go and it just didn\u2019t work out.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Sox had another opportunity in the eighth when Andrew Benintendi\u2019s one-out double got the Sox a runner on base. Miguel Vargas flew out in the next at-bat, but Kyle Teel hit a two-out single to put runners on the corners.<\/p>\n
Teel promptly stole second, giving the Sox a prime scoring opportunity with Edgar Quero at the plate. Quero worked a full count against reliever Cole Winn, but lined out sharply to Seager to end the inning \u2014 according to Baseball Savant, the hit had an expected batting average of .830.<\/p>\n
The Sox scored just six runs over the three-game series, and four came in Saturday\u2019s loss.<\/p>\n
Knowing the Sox\u2019 propensity for drawing walks \u2014 they entered Sunday tied for fourth in the majors in walks \u2014 the Rangers were aggressive in the zone and the Sox didn\u2019t adjust.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were aggressive, and we just didn\u2019t match the aggression,\u201d Venable said. \u201cThere were pitches in the zone we weren\u2019t able to turn around.\u201d<\/p>\n
After going 4-for-26 with RISP, the players should also feel Venable\u2019s frustration after being swept in a series they could have won.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n