White Sox put outfielder Avisail Garcia on 10-day DL
CHICAGO (AP) Aaron Bummer got to know Dan Jennings while he was in spring training with the Chicago White Sox.
Now Jennings is off to Tampa Bay, and Bummer is taking his spot with the big league club.
Bummer was promoted from Triple-A Charlotte before Thursday night's 6-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs, part of a flurry of moves for the busy White Sox. Jennings was traded to the Rays for minor league first baseman Casey Gillaspie, and All-Star outfielder Avisail Garcia was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained right thumb.
Bummer pitched the eighth in his major league debut. Wearing No. 70, the 23-year-old left-hander allowed Kyle Schwarber's second homer of the game before Jason Heyward flied out to end the inning.
''I know Schwarber got him, but he had the right idea for how he was trying to attack him,'' manager Rick Renteria said. ''He said he was trying to sink one in, and it stayed out over the plate a little bit more than he wanted it to. ... He came in very calm, was under control.''
The last-place White Sox also recalled outfielder Willy Garcia from Charlotte. Garcia, who made his major league debut in April, started in right field and hit a solo drive in the third for his second homer.
''He's been doing very well down there,'' Renteria said before the game. ''We have a situation where Avi goes down and he'd the one who gets called to come and help us. I think he understands the situation, he understands what he has to do.''
Bummer, a 19th-round pick in the 2014 draft, went 1-3 with a 2.84 ERA and three saves in 20 appearances for Double-A Birmingham and Charlotte this season.
Knights manager Mark Grudzielanek and pitching coach Steve McCatty delivered the big news to Bummer on Wednesday night.
''I just sat there with a dumbfounded smile on my face, not really knowing what to expect, just spitting out gibberish,'' he said. ''It's a moment I'll never forget.''
Bummer then called his parents and his girlfriend. He also got a ''funny'' text message from Jennings before the game, but he declined to share what he said.
''We'll keep that one private,'' Bummer said. ''He's awesome and he's a guy I will definitely keep in touch with and wish him nothing but the best of luck in whatever else goes on.''
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Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap