White Sox end first half with sweep at hands of Pirates

The White Sox had Pirates starter Mitch Keller on the ropes Sunday, loading the bases in the first and third innings. But the Sox mustered one run in those situations and led by only a run after three. The Pirates scored three runs in the fourth and four in the seventh to pull away.

The inability to tack on runs has been an issue for the Sox all season — they’re last in the majors in batting average with runners in scoring position — and it was significant in the weekend series.

The Sox lost 9-4 in their final game before the All-Star break. They were swept for the 13th time this season and fell 44 games under .500.

“It’s not the first half we wanted, but we just gotta keep showing up, playing hard,” left fielder Andrew Benintendi said.

The loss — the Sox’ 71st of the season — extended their major-league record for most losses before an All-Star break. The Sox are flirting with the 1962 Mets for the most losses in a season, telling you all you need to know about their first half.

“Obviously disappointing,” manager Pedro Grifol said before the game. “This is not something we planned for. Something we didn’t really expect.”

The Sox lead the majors in blown saves (23) and have won just six series. They enter the break on a four-game losing streak.

“You can’t pinpoint it in one area because there have been times where we’ve made mistakes mentally and physically on the field defensively,” Grifol said. “There have been times where we have not executed a game plan. There have been times where, on the pitching end, we leave a ball out over the plate.”

The Sox now shift their attention to the draft as the front office looks to add to the farm system over the next couple of days.

After that, the trade deadline will be the focus, and the Sox have several players who could help playoff hopefuls.

This team could look a lot different after the trade deadline July 30. Grifol understands the circumstances the Sox are in as a seller, but he said he has seen situations where a team was prepared to deal and ends up staying intact.

“We can’t hide from the fact that this is an uncomfortable couple of weeks for some of these guys,” Grifol said. “That’s the reality of it. That understanding that you may be here, you may not be here is real.”

Trade rumors have circulated around the club since the team got off to a 3-22 start. USA Today reported Sunday that the Sox fully intend to trade All-Star Garrett Crochet and are more optimistic that they can trade center fielder Luis Robert Jr.

Reliever Michael Kopech, shortstop Paul DeJong and right fielder Tommy Pham also could be traded. Trades might affect the clubhouse camaraderie, but it’s necessary as the front office continues to build up the organization.

“It’s part of the business,” catcher Korey Lee said. “I dealt with it last year, coming into a new organization [Lee was dealt in the Kendall Graveman trade]. It’s just part of the game, and you have to be accepting of that.”

Though uncertainty clouds the Sox, players and coaches were looking forward to the break to put a tumultuous first half behind them and prepare for Kansas City on Friday.

“We’ve just got to take this break, reset and play baseball,” Grifol said.