Noah Schultz strong in White Sox' 6-3, 10-inning loss to Nationals

Other than a win, the White Sox got a lot of what they wanted Saturday.

Noah Schultz started against the Nationals, and a big crowd was expected at Rate Field because of a windbreaker giveaway.

Schultz pitched well and the attendance was the largest of the season. The only issue, albeit a fleeting one, was the Sox’ offense, which was mostly quiet in a 6-3, 10-inning loss to Washington.

In front of an announced crowd of 35,174 – the team’s biggest in an April non-home opener since April 29, 2007 – the Nationals scored four times in the 10th to snap the Sox’ brief two-game winning streak.

The Sox’ offensive struggles, partially caused by shadows from Saturday’s 3:10 start, don’t have the long-term implications of every Schultz outing. Nor does the lineup going 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position and Andrew Benintendi and Munetaka Murakami going hitless in 10 at-bats with six strikeouts.

“There [were] a couple of comments I did hear [about the shadows],” Sox manager Will Venable said. “It’s a problem on both sides if it is a problem at all. You have to find a way to battle the elements there with the shadows and do whatever you can to put the ball in play.”

What mattered the most was Schultz and the former first-round pick continuing to get acclimated to life on a big-league mound.

Schultz wasn’t perfect, he walked four batters and Colson Montgomery saved two runs with a diving play to end the third inning, but the very tall lefthander kept the Sox in the game. He struck out eight and got 10 swings and misses, throwing 85 pitches.

“He just looks more and more comfortable,” Venable said. “I don’t think that confidence is ever an issue for him. He’s a very confident guy. Each one of these starts we see the confidence grow in his ability to be effective in the zone. When he’s not effective in the zone, he gets back in the zone.”

Through three starts, Schultz has looked like a long-term anchor of the Sox rotation. Of course, he’s nowhere close to a finished product, and Schultz doesn’t claim to be.

Yes, he’s made progress between his debut and Saturday and continues to get more used to his surroundings, but each start is a new experience with new lessons to learn.

“Just going about my business, going about every day with how I do stuff throughout the day,” Schultz said. “Going through a game plan and scouting the guys. A lot of things that I wish I improved on today, but at the end of the day, things that I definitely need to work on.”

Like other pitchers, Schultz will have days when his stuff isn’t the sharpest. On Saturday, his four-seam fastball averaged 94.2 mph, down from the 95.8 against the Athletics in his previous start and well below his season average of 96.4.

Other than Nasim Nunez’s two-run single in the fourth, Washington couldn’t take advantage.

“He’s got a lot of weapons, a lot of different ways to get guys out,” Venable said. “That’s the great thing about Noah, he’s in tune with his stuff and his weapons. When one thing's not working, he’s able to pivot and find different ways to attack hitters.”

Schultz does have a lot of ways to go after opponents. On Saturday, he used five pitches, even mixing in two changeups to go with his usual power repertoire.

“That’s what’s special about Noah,” Venable said. “He understands his skillset. He understands how to attack hitters different ways. Just a guy who, for a young guy, feels very polished.”