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ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Chicago White Sox bullpen surrendered six runs in the sixth inning of a 10-6 loss to the Texas Rangers Tuesday night.

How it happened: Left-handed reliever Donnie Veal was brought in by White Sox manager Robin Ventura to face left-handed hitting Mitch Moreland with a runner on first in the sixth inning of a 4-4 tie. Moreland lined a pitch over the head of left fielder Alejandro De Aza, who was playing shallow and didn’t seem to take the best angle. Geovany Soto scored easily on the double for a 5-4 lead. Ian Kinsler singled off the third reliever of the inning, Nate Jones, scoring Moreland with the sixth Texas run. Then, it turned ugly. Back-to-back wild pitches by Jones enabled a couple of more runs. Adrian Beltre finished off the six-run outburst with a two-run home run and Texas would have all the scoring it would need.

What it means: The White Sox dropped their third straight game in the opener of an eight-game, three-city road trip. After getting off to a quick 2-0 lead against Yu Darvish and then fighting back to overcome a two-run deficit in the sixth, the White Sox bullpen faltered. It is the continuation of a trend. The bullpen was 0-3 with a 6.08 ERA in seven preceding games after performing well (3-3, 1.63) in its first 17 games.

Outside the box: Shortstop Alexei Ramirez had very little reaction time, but that didn’t keep him from making a brilliant defensive play to turn away an early Rangers threat. Ramirez lunged to his left to glove a scalding one-hopper off the bat of Soto and turned it into an easy double play that ended the second inning.

Offbeat: Dewayne Wise was not in the original starting lineup. But when starting center fielder Jordan Danks came up hobbled with an inflamed bursa sac behind his right knee, Wise was inserted in the ninth spot in the order. Wise made the most of his opportunity, matching a career high in hits in a game with four. Wise had singles in his first two trips, followed by a game-tying two-run home run in the sixth, all off Darvish. Wise finished his big night with a double in the eighth. Wise’s home run extended the White Sox streak to nine games in which they have homered.

Up next: Left-hander Chris Sale (2-2), coming off a strong outing in a 5-2 win over Tampa Bay, will go against Nick Tepesch (2-1) Wednesday in a 7:05 p.m. start at Rangers Ballpark.

CHICAGO -- While the bullpen strains under the weight it is being asked to carry and the defense continues to provide more assistance to the opposing offense, the Chicago White Sox continue to drift aimlessly.

Another loss by a reliever was combined with two more White Sox errors that led to an 8-3 defeat by the Tampa Bay Rays and a 3-5 homestand that followed a 3-7 road trip.

Making it that much worse is that the White Sox need to step up their game in the wake of so many April injuries, not regress in areas that were a supposed strength.

The bullpen is still top-notch, but a lack of run support has left it pitching in tight games each and every night, and things haven’t always gone the Sox's way in such circumstances. Nate Jones was tagged with the loss Sunday, the bullpen’s sixth loss this season. Only the Toronto Blue Jays and their eight bullpen defeats have more in the American League.

“We’re looking at what you have here and what’s available, and you go from there,” manager Robin Ventura said. “You try to win games right now not waiting and looking in the future. Guys are playing hard and this is one of those that is probably a work in progress of trying to figure that out and who’s playing and who’s doing what. But again, you try to make due and make sure everybody is giving a constant effort. That’s all you can ask.”

Ultimately, it all goes back to that ineffective offense. Adam Dunn, whose struggles have been mighty in the early going, continued to show signs of life with a first-inning RBI single. Team leader Paul Konerko added a two-run home run.

Everybody else, though, was an easy target for Rays starter David Price, who snapped a streak of five starts without a victory. His last truimph came Sept. 30 of last season, against the White Sox.

The White Sox have already used the disabled list six times in the first 24 games, an extreme worst-case scenario for a club that lacks not only roster depth but in potential breakthrough prospects at the minor league level.

Tyler Green (second base), Conor Gillaspie (third base) and Dewayne Wise (center field) all filled in for injured players Sunday and were a combined 1-for-10.

“I don’t sense anybody looking around saying we can’t win with what we have,” Konerko said. “I think the only time you think about those guys is when you see them. I think every team is going to have that little span during the season where it seems like every day somebody’s going down. Hopefully, this is ours right now and we start getting guys back and we’re kind of over that and it’s done with and some other team’s going to have to deal with that in August or September, maybe.”

CHICAGO -- A combination of good pitching and just enough offense helped the Chicago White Sox snap their four-game losing streak.

Starter Jose Quintana extended his scoreless streak to 18 2/3 innings before giving way to the bullpen in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Indians. Quintana allowed one run in the inning before manager Robin Ventura went to Nate Jones with runners on the corners and nobody out.

Jones gave up a sacrifice fly, but he and his bullpen mates were flawless the rest of the way. The relievers pitched four shutout innings to preserve the win for Quintana and break the losing skid.

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CHICAGO -- There were some firsts for the Chicago White Sox bullpen on Friday and they weren’t necessarily the kind to celebrate.

Not only did the bullpen give up its first runs of the season in an 8-7 loss to the Seattle Mariners in 10 innings, reliever Nate Jones suffered the first loss of his career.

White Sox relievers had gone 12 2/3 scoreless innings this season, including 5 1/3 scoreless Friday night before Jones gave up the first of his two runs in the 10th inning that ended up deciding the game.

After going 8-0 in 65 appearances last season, Jones now knows what a loss feels like.

He was actually in his second inning of work after pitching a perfect ninth inning, something manager Robin Ventura did by necessity as the game dragged on.

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CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox rallied to force extra innings Friday, but the Seattle Mariners came through in the 10th with an 8-7 victory.

How it happened: In his second inning of work in the 10th, White Sox reliever Nate Jones gave up a pair of runs. They were the first two runs the White Sox’s bullpen had given up in the first four games. Dewayne Wise had an RBI in the 10th inning, but the White Sox left the bases loaded when Tyler Flowers struck out to end it. After White Sox starter Jose Quintana faltered, the offense put together a rally. Quintana was roughed up for six runs (five earned) over just four innings, failing to get an out in the fifth. Paul Konerko's RBI single in the fourth inning was his 2,137th hit with the White Sox, breaking a tie with Frank Thomas and moving him into sole possession of third on the club’s all-time list.

What it means: The White Sox put on their overalls and went into the manufacturing business for the first time this season but ultimately fell short. Give them credit for creativity as Adam Dunn helped to get things going with a steal just ahead of an RBI single from Konerko. Flowers also doubled in a run while Alex Rios brought home the tying run on a ground out. Their 10th-inning rally fell just short. Before the game, the White Sox had scored six of their first seven runs on home runs. Of course they went deep in this one too with Rios and Alejandro De Aza hitting home runs.

Outside the box: The Mariners had figured out Quintana so quickly and thoroughly that they knocked him from the game by collecting hits on his last four pitches. Seven batters reached base in succession against Quintana in the fifth inning, including one on his own error when he tried to bare hand a throw from Konerko while covering first base.

Off beat: Call it the initiation of the new guy as reliever Matt Lindstrom was asked to pitch 2 1/3 innings after Quintana was yanked in the fifth inning. The free-agent signee showed he was up for the challenge by striking out two and not allowing a hit. The outing matched a career long for Lindstrom, who also got seven outs in an outing last year.

Up next: The White Sox will send right-hander Dylan Axelrod (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound Saturday in the middle game of the three game series. He will be opposed by Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez (1-0, 0.00) in the 12:10 p.m. start from U.S. Cellular Field.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox bullpen wasn't necessarily the brightest of some bright stars on Opening Day, yet by the time the 2013 season picks up momentum it could be the glue that holds the club together.

Blessed with the ideal mix of live young arms and veteran savvy, the belief is that the late innings will be no place for opponents to forge a rally.

While not wanting to drop too much expectation on his relief corps this early in the season, manager Robin Ventura knows that his bullpen could become the strength of the roster.

"I hope by the end of the year it's that way," Ventura said after the White Sox's 1-0 victory Monday over the Kansas City Royals. "Right now I don't know if anyone has roles or anything in particular except for (Addison Reed), but I would like to say that. We're confident in it. I'm confident in it."

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The Chicago White Sox's 1-2 punch at the top of the starting rotation will be complemented this season by the 1-2 punch at the back end of the bullpen.

Where Chris Sale and Jake Peavy are being looked upon to give the White Sox a chance to win each and every night they take the mound, a different pair will be entrusted to make sure late leads aren't squandered.

That's the initial thought, anyway, as closer Addison Reed figures to have a fellow flame-throwing co-conspirator in Nate Jones, who is primed to become a full-time setup man. Manager Robin Ventura tried to suggest over the winter that the closer spot is up for grabs, but the job clearly belongs to Reed for now.

Add that Reed-Jones combination to veteran relievers Matt Thornton and Jesse Crain, not to mention newcomer Matt Lindstrom, and the White Sox have a group to envy.

Complementing that well-rounded collection of arms will be the versatile Hector Santiago, who can not only pitch late in games if needed, he can also be used in long relief. Add the fact that he is left-handed and Santiago could find himself in any of a number of roles this season, including spot starter if needed.

Depth has also shown itself this spring. Brian Omogrosso has pitched well and could land a roster spot if Crain isn't able to start the season on time because of a muscle strain in his right leg. Newcomer Ramon Troncoso appears to have recaptured some of the form that helped him to become a mainstay in the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen for a few seasons.

Add to that the performances in Arizona of Daniel Moskos and Jhan Marinez, and the White Sox feel they have replacement pieces that could come in handy as the season progresses.

THREE KEYS TO SUCCESS

• If Reed hears Jones' footsteps behind him, that could end up being a good thing. For some, the idea that a teammate might be gaining on you and about to take your job could prove uneasy. More solid work from Jones could create that scenario, but Reed has shown that he can use pressure situations to his advantage. After all, last season he posted a 3.56 ERA over 30 1/3 innings of save situations and a 6.20 ERA over 24 2/3 innings in non-save situations.

• As the veterans of the bullpen, Thornton and Crain will need to be steadying influences. For Thornton that means overcoming inconsistencies that have cropped up over the past few seasons and be the left-handed reliever the White Sox can rely on. Including this spring, Crain is starting to show he is susceptible to nagging injuries at age 31. When healthy, Crain has shown he is more than good enough to get the job done so avoiding the injury bug will be huge.

• Lindstrom brings another live arm to go along with Reed and Jones and if he can get into a groove, the White Sox can be brutal to contend with after the sixth inning. Lindstrom has spent most of his big-league time in the National League, but in 34 games with the Baltimore Orioles last season he delivered a 2.72 ERA and had 30 strikeouts to 12 walks, while opponents hit .254 against him.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Chicago White Sox pitcher Jesse Crain passed the first test Saturday in his attempt to return from a strained left groin.

Crain threw 20 pitches in a minor-league game without any setbacks.

"He looked good today," manager Robin Ventura said. "He looked fine and felt fine afterward."

Crain has not pitched in a Cactus League game since incurring the injury March 7. The plan is for Crain to throw three more times before Opening Day in preparation to get back into the bullpen rotation.

"I have been around long enough to know you don't want to push it and jeopardize the rest of the season," Crain said after his morning performance. "I was trying to let it go today. I went straight out there and let it go. I threw all my pitches and felt fine afterwards."

Crain will throw again Monday. He has been the primary setup man from the right side for Chicago since signing a three-year contract before the 2011 season. Teammate Nate Jones is pushing Crain for the setup role this season.

"These are small steps that you take," Ventura said. "You just want to make sure he is out of the woods. If he is healthy he is the first one you want to go to."

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Early indications show that Nate Jones is ready to show even more this season.

After bursting upon the scene in 2012 with an impressive rookie season, Jones doesn't seem content to merely duplicate that success. He has looked as good as any White Sox pitcher this spring.

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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The way veteran reliever Matt Thornton sees it, the Chicago White Sox had a solid season in 2012, and when it comes to the bullpen, anyway, they are even further along than a year ago when spring training opened.

“Last spring training we had a lot of guys fighting for jobs and Nate Jones came in and won a job,” Thornton said. “We knew who he was but he was still off the radar and came on with a great spring training and established himself as a great arm for us.”

But Jones’ presence isn’t the only factor that solidifies the White Sox's bullpen. Thornton says that Addison Reed's emergence in the closer role has established a definitive pecking order.

“It’s that first full big-league season, the stress of being in contention all year long,” Thornton said. “Getting that under their belt is huge for those guys. Now situations won’t overwhelm them. Not that it did before, but they know what to expect, they know what September brings, they know what August brings. It’s a long year and they will be ready for it a little more this year.”

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Doug Padilla previews the White Sox by position in the days leading up to pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training on Feb. 12.

Nothing beats a cost-effective young closer like Addison Reed, especially since his low price tag gives the Chicago White Sox the opportunity to spend on other areas of the bullpen.

Jesse Crain and Matt Thornton, the bullpen veterans, will split $10 million between them with there still a little left over to bring in a hard-throwing newcomer in Matt Lindstrom, who will pocket $2.3 million this season. The rest of the relief help falls into the "affordable" category.

The back end of the bullpen appears to be solid, but the White Sox still can't ignore other areas. Finding a quality long man (or two) will be vital, especially with starter John Danks returning from injury and any efforts the club might undertake to maintain Chris Sale's innings.

So far, the only thing the White Sox are saying in regard to Sale is that he will get a later start than others in spring training and no mention has been made on a targeted inning count for 2013. Sale threw 192 innings in 2012.

Addison Reed, RHP: The young talent was far from the only one who dealt with a late-season swoon. It's easy to see that Reed trailed off last season with an 8.00 ERA in September and an opponents' batting average of .351 in the month. Reed's most ardent supporters, though, will point a handful of outings, especially the six runs he allowed May 13, as the reason for his untidy 4.75 ERA. The bottom line is that consistency will be Reed's aim this season and his first full season of experience should help him get there. He plans on using a new cardio program to help with stamina throughout the summer.

Matt Thornton, LHP: Once again, there will be a lot expected from one of the veteran anchors of the White Sox's bullpen. It's perhaps a tall order considering that Thornton's 10 losses were easily the most of all left-handers last year and were tied for the most among all relievers in baseball. Add to that four blown saves as the carnage mounted. Through it all, Thornton did manage seven saves and an ERA under 3.50. His veteran presence will be leaned on heavily.

Jesse Crain, RHP: A strained left oblique and a strained right shoulder disrupted a 2012 season but the year still wasn't a lost cause. Crain managed to make 51 appearances (48 innings) while posting a 2.44 ERA to go along with four saves and two victories. His 1.08 WHIP was his best since posting a 1.07 mark in his rookie season of 2004 with the Minnesota Twins. He is expected to pitch for Canada in the WBC.

Nate Jones, RHP: In the epitome of a surprise breakout season, Jones managed to skip the Triple-A level entirely by earning a roster spot with a solid 2012 spring training. His 2.39 ERA and 8-0 rookie marks signal that the sky's the limit for the hard thrower from Kentucky. At SoxFest manager Robin Ventura told the crowd that Jones would be able to challenge Reed for the closer spot. Ventura's wink afterward suggested Reed will keep his job, but there is still no mistaking the White Sox like what they have in Jones.

Matt Lindstrom, RHP: If Reed and Jones represent the hard-throwing youngsters, Lindstrom is the older equivalent. He will turn 33 on Monday but still relies on the velocity of his youth. Despite pitching in both leagues last season (with Arizona and Baltimore), he still posted a 2.68 ERA over 48 outings. Finally getting a chance to pick his own club via free agency, Lindstrom says he delayed the process this winter in order to hear from the White Sox. He's right where he wants to be now.

Hector Santiago, LHP: If Danks isn't ready to start the season on time, Santiago could end up getting some early starts. Either way, he should be a key member of the bullpen as a long man, and his ability to rack up innings would help ease the early innings count on the recovering Danks. If Gavin Floyd can't work his way back toward 200 innings, Santiago could be in for a long, grueling season.

Dylan Axelrod, RHP: Also in the competition for any early Danks starts, Axelrod could also help in the long man department. It isn't likely the White Sox carry two long men, but if either Axelrod or Santiago is starting at any point then a bullpen spot would be available for the other.

Donnie Veal, LHP: With Santiago and Thornton in the bullpen, the White Sox have coverage from the left side. But Veal could end up being a lefty specialist like the White Sox tried to do with Will Ohman in recent years.

Other bullpen options include Deunte Heath, Brian Omogrosso and Leyson Septimo, who all saw some action with the White Sox last season. Non-roster invitees to camp with major-league experience include Jeff Gray, who pitched 52 innings for the Twins last season, and Ramon Troncoso, who was a key member of the Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen that made back-to-back NLCS appearances in 2008 and 2009.

CHICAGO -- New Chicago White Sox bullpen coach Bobby Thigpen certainly doesn't lack confidence ... or a positive outlook.

Asked about the 2013 bullpen, he didn't mince words.

"How good can the group be?" Thigpen said. "The best in baseball."

At least the White Sox relievers know they have a coach who believes in them.

Of course Thigpen is going to heap praise to the group, especially after taking over as bullpen coach from Juan Nieves, who moved on to become the Boston Red Sox's pitching coach.

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CHICAGO -- Here’s a quick look at the Tampa Bay Rays' 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on Sunday.

How it happened: The White Sox’s offensive woes continued against the Rays on Sunday. The White Sox haven’t scored more than four runs in 12 of their last 13 games. The Rays jumped on White Sox starting pitcher Jose Quintana with a two-run home run by B.J. Upton in the first inning. Ryan Roberts also homered off Quintana, who pitched four innings and fell to a 6-6 on the season. Alex Rios and Dayan Viciedo each had a RBI for the White Sox. Rays starting pitcher David Price improved to 20-5.

What it means: The White Sox fell to three games behind the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central. The Tigers defeated the Minnesota Twins 2-1 on Sunday. Both teams have three games remaining.

Outside the box: White Sox reliever Nate Jones had his consecutive scoreless innings streak snapped at 22 2/3 innings on Sunday. It had been the longest active streak in the majors.

Up next: The White Sox begin a three-game road series with the Cleveland Indians on Monday. The White Sox have not announced a starter for Monday yet. Corey Kluber (2-4, 5.02 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Indians.

Rookie reliever Nate Jones could have folded up like a tent when Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura asked him to pitch two innings-plus for the second consecutive day on Friday.

Instead of giving in to fatigue, he took the ball and got the job done once again. That type of attitude and performance has been the mantra for this team under Ventura and his staff.

At the beginning of September, veterans like Jesse Crain, Matt Thornton and Brett Myers took the young bullpen pitchers under their wing for the stretch run.

”They talked to us and more importantly never showed any panic mode when things went poorly,” Jones said. “They keep it under control in every situation they were in. That type of approach helps me and the rest of the guys calm down and take a similar approach. When you see them handle things in stride, you follow suit.”

Jones has been rock-solid for the Sox, throwing 22 1/3 scoreless innings over his last 21 appearances. His 8-0 record is the best start by a Sox rookie pitcher in 77 years. The bullpen collectively has been outstanding, keeping the team in games when the starters have failed to get the job done.

“I give the credit to the guys down there,” said Ventura of his veteran relievers. “It’s always better when the message comes from out there, where the guys are doing it. It is one thing when you hear it from a coach. They are getting it from a veteran guy who is doing it, where they can see and practice it then go back out and do it.”

Closer Addison Reed had a bad experience in Minnesota two weeks ago, loading the bases and leaving a save situation without retiring a batter. Instead of gaining a spot in the dog house, Ventura slowly weaned him back into the one-inning save mode. That type of positive reinforcement and veteran support has been twofold in the development of the young bullpen group.

“This type of pennant-pressure pitching experience will help all of us that are going through it for the first time develop,” Reed said. “We have had a lot of help from the older guys and the staff but nothing beats getting the chance to do it and succeeding.”

The bullpen has a 1.55 ERA over the last 15 games.

CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura has frequented the mound 68 times to call upon his bullpen since September arrived.

Through the month’s first 11 games, the bullpen was hit-or-miss for Ventura, allowing 28 runs. Lately, though, it’s become more dependable, and that was case again Monday in the White Sox’s 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field.

Ventura went to bullpen five times Monday, and the five White Sox’s relievers combined to allow one hit and no runs in five innings.

In the past four games, which were all wins, 13 White Sox relievers have combined to give up five hits and one run in 13 innings.

Nate Jones carried the load in Monday’s win. He was called up in the fifth inning after starter Jose Quintana allowed a double and single to start the inning. Jones started off shaky, allowing a single to Delmon Young to score a run, but from there he settled down. He retired the next seven hitters he faced.

Jones has made 15 consecutive scoreless appearances and again fell in line for the win. He’s now 8-0 on the season.

“Nate picked the bullpen up big time today going those couple innings,” fellow White Sox reliever Brett Myers said. “That’s huge. He stepped up, threw the ball great. He dominated them today. That’s huge. That’s a big step for us to have him throwing the ball well right now.”

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