Garrett Crochet was breezing.
Then he took a breather. Maybe sooner than he expected.
Having retired 11 straight Twins batters as he ended the fifth inning Monday night, Crochet found himself pulled with his pitch count at 77. He and White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz, with his hands on Crochet’s shoulders, had an involved discussion in the dugout.
It wasn’t immediately known why Crochet, who hugged catcher Korey Lee after talking with Katz, was removed from the game — a 3-2 loss that ended the White Sox’ winning streak at three and stretched the Twins’ winning streak to eight.
What is known is that Crochet’s workload in his first season as a starter is being monitored.
The relatively quick hook didn’t factor into the game outcome. The Sox’ bullpen held the Twins hitless until John Brebbia (0-1) gave up Byron Buxton’s leadoff double and Max Kepler’s RBI single in the ninth.
The Sox (6-23) started strong in the first when Nicky Lopez singled, Andrew Vaughn doubled to the wall, scoring Lopez, and Gavin Sheets singled to set up runners at the corners with no outs against Twins starter Joe Ryan. But Eloy Jimenez hit into a double play, scoring a run to make it 2-0 but killing the inning.
The Twins (15-13) tied it in the second when Carlos Santana followed Manuel Margot’s leadoff walk with a home run. After an infield single by Willi Castro, Crochet retired 11 straight. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out seven.
Man with a plan
Lee is coming along in his game preparation and signal-calling — elements of catching he embraces.
“In every single game, in every play, you’re doing the most homework on the team, the behind-the-scenes stuff,” Lee said. “I enjoy that. You can paint a picture of what’s going to happen, and when you execute the plan, that’s what I enjoy.
“You have to have a real passion for what I do behind the scenes and with the pitching staff and communicating with our coaches. You have to really, really love it. I’ve learned to love it. Keep on hammering this thing out.”
Lee caught Crochet for the second straight time after Martin Maldonado caught Crochet’s first five starts. The plan was to adjust to the Twins’ jumping on Crochet’s fastball after they plated five runs in four innings against him last Wednesday in Minneapolis.
Lee struck out with runners at the corners to end the game.
Light night for Pham
After making an immediate impact during the Sox’ three-game sweep over the Rays over the weekend, outfielder Tommy Pham was out of the lineup Monday, although he lined out to right field as a pinch hitter for Rafael Ortega in the ninth.
“I’m just giving him a break,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “He didn’t have a spring training — he ran hard for three days. Everything he does is 100% from the time he gets in here to the very last pitch of the game. Have to protect him as well.”
This and that
Brad Keller made his Sox debut, overcoming two walks in the first of two scoreless innings in relief of Crochet.
• Michael Kopech was perfect through the top of the Twins’ order in the eighth, touching 100-101 mph and striking out Carlos Correa looking on a 92 mph slider.
• Paid attendance was 10,772 on Dog in the Park night, which brought 1,243 canines to Guaranteed Rate Field.
