Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable made a costly error during the team’s 8-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians at Rate Field on Friday, August 7th, 2026. Early in the game, starting pitcher Noah Schultz loaded the bases after just four batters, prompting a mound visit from pitching coach Zach Bove. Shortly after, Venable made a second mound visit to Schultz in the same inning, violating official MLB rule 5.10(l), which allows only one visit per pitcher per inning without penalty. The rule mandates that if a manager or coach makes a second visit to the same pitcher in an inning, that pitcher must be removed from the game.

As a result, Schultz was forced out after facing only five batters, further taxing an already exhausted White Sox bullpen, which had been heavily used in a 13-inning loss the previous night. Venable acknowledged the mistake, saying, "Yeah, just an inexcusable mistake by me where we had an appeal play that we wanted to execute, and in the urgency of trying to make that happen, just totally lost that we had visited," according to MLB.com.

Despite the setback, a recent call-up from Triple-A, Sandlin, helped save the bullpen by pitching 5 1/3 innings on 96 pitches. Venable’s blunder overshadowed what has otherwise been a strong first season managing the White Sox.

Key Rule

Under official MLB rule 5.10(l), "a manager or coach is allowed only one visit to the mound per pitcher in a single inning without penalty. If the same coach or manager makes a second visit to the same pitcher in the same inning, the pitcher must be removed from the pitching position."

Quotes

  • Venable: "Obviously that was a mistake. So, just messed it up."
  • Schultz on warming up: "I think I got about eight pitches in the 'pen and then got to warm up out there. Can't make any excuses, just have to get going. Felt good enough and started off great."

Game Details

The White Sox’s loss to the Guardians at Rate Field was marked by this managerial error, which contributed to the team’s difficulties on the mound and eventual defeat.

Sources: Fox News Latest, MLB.com