DETROIT — The banged-up Chicago White Sox received more bad news Friday during an 8-2 victory against the Detroit Tigers when catcher Yasmani Grandal exited in the fifth inning with left calf tightness.
Grandal went 1 for 2 with an RBI and a run before Zack Collins replaced him. The Sox said he’s being further evaluated.
The setback came one day after Sox third baseman Yoán Moncada left early against the Minnesota Twins with a bruised right hand. He’s expected to miss the weekend series at Comerica Park.
The Sox are missing starting second baseman Nick Madrigal, who is out for the season after suffering a torn right hamstring June 9. Starting outfielders Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert and reserve outfielders Adam Engel and Jake Lamb are on the injured list, as are relievers Aaron Bummer and Evan Marshall.
Grandal knocked in Tim Anderson with a two-out single in the first and scored on a triple from Brian Goodwin. Grandal leads the Sox with 14 home runs and is second in the majors with 59 walks.
The Sox optioned another catching option, Yermín Mercedes, to Triple-A Charlotte earlier Friday in one of four roster moves. Mercedes spent almost all of his time at designated hitter, catching just two innings.
One of Friday’s additions, Jake Burger, picked up his first hit in his major league debut. The third baseman reached on a double in the seventh when Tigers center fielder Daz Cameron lost track of the ball. Burger finished 2 for 4 after singling in the ninth.
The injuries continue to pile up. So do the victories, as the Sox won their fifth straight to extend their lead to six games over the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central.
Sox starter Lance Lynn allowed one run on four hits with nine strikeouts and five walks in six innings.
Andrew Vaughn went 2 for 4 with a home run and two runs. Gavin Sheets hit a three-run home run during a five-run ninth.
The Sox have scored at least seven runs in each game during the winning streak.