humber

Humber throws perfect game, Sox beat Seattle 4-0

SEATTLE — Now that Philip Humber is back to a normal five-day schedule, Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura expects a more efficient effort from his starting pitcher Saturday against the Seattle Mariners.

“I think missing that start and having that layoff, normally he’s not like that,” Ventura said of Humber, who needed 115 pitches to throw 5 1/3 innings Monday against Baltimore in his first start in 12 days. “I expect him to be having a little more control of what he’s doing and not expecting that high pitch count, all things equal.”

The Sox’s starters rank fourth in the American League with a 3.74 ERA and have pitched deep enough in most games to not tax the bullpen, which has a 2.45 ERA.

“They’ve done a great job,” Ventura said. “We’ve been in every game as far as what the starters are doing. They’re giving us good innings. We’re able to bring in the relievers more often than not, for an inning and having them start an inning instead of bringing them in tough spots.”