Civale, debut with White Sox: Not so clean, 4 walks and loss

In his first start with the Chicago White Sox, after being transferred by the Milwaukee Brewers, Aaron Civale struggled on the mound. Civale issued four walks to the first seven batters he faced, resulting in a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers on Sunday. The 30-year-old pitcher finished the game with four walks, close to his personal record, allowing six hits and two runs in five innings. He threw 65 strikes and 39 balls. Chicago was losing 2-1 when he was replaced by Dan Altavilla at the start of the sixth inning.

It wasn’t the cleanest. It’s been a very hectic week. In the first innings, just getting back out there and adjusting, getting used to the new team, the new catcher, and everything else.
Aaron Civale

The White Sox acquired Civale a day after he expressed his desire to remain a starter, whether with the Brewers or another team, following his demotion to the Milwaukee bullpen. The Brewers made this decision to make way for prospect Jacob Misiorowski. Civale (1-3) pitched a scoreless first inning despite issuing three walks, thanks in part to a double play by Wyatt Langford. The fourth walk cost Civale, as Adolis García scored after Texas’s first hit, a two-out double by Ezequiel Duran in the second inning. The Rangers extended their lead to 2-0 with a sacrifice fly from Marcus Semien in the fifth inning, where Civale allowed three hits, but struck out Jake Burger to end the inning with runners on second and third.

He has to be given credit for fighting and completing five innings. It wasn’t his best day, but with these veterans who have experience, they are able to navigate difficult situations.
Will Venable

Civale’s 123 regular season appearances in the Major Leagues have been as a starter. This is the third consecutive year he has been part of a mid-season trade. Milwaukee obtained him from Tampa Bay last year. The Rays acquired him from Cleveland in 2023.

It’s never easy. There’s comfort in the experience you have, but each time is new and it’s a different challenge in itself. You’re trying to make that adjustment as quickly as you can. I was out there trying to compete and I wasn’t filling the zone the way I would have liked.
Aaron Civale

Milwaukee sent Civale, who is eligible for free agency after this season, to the White Sox in exchange for first baseman Andrew Vaughn and $807,000 in cash.

Aaron Civale issued four walks to the first seven batters he faced in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Rangers. He finished with four walks, close to his personal record, while allowing six hits and two runs in five innings. He threw 65 pitches for strikes and 39 for balls. Civale stated he had no problems with anyone in the Brewers’ locker room, nor with the coaches. He simply wanted to remain a starter, as he had also been in his 86 appearances in the minor leagues. The performance against Texas lowered Civale’s ERA to 4.67 this season, where he earns $8 million. He has allowed nine runs in 24 innings in five starts since returning from the injured list with a left hamstring strain. Civale threw only six of his first 19 pitches for strikes, and it was during that period that home plate umpire Marvin Hudson, the crew chief, gestured toward the Chicago dugout. Moments later, he ejected Venable. The second ejection in Venable’s career, a manager in his first year, occurred on Father’s Day. The first was on Mother’s Day. Venable was a little surprised when that was pointed out to him.