Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable made an uncharacteristic mistake in the team's 8-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, forgetting a key rule that led to the premature removal of starting pitcher Noah Schultz.

Just four batters into the game at Rate Field, Schultz had loaded the bases. Following a mound visit from pitching coach Zach Bove, Schultz gave up a two-run single. Venable then approached the mound again, intending to discuss an appeal play, but overlooked official rule 5.10(l).

The rule stipulates that a manager or coach is permitted only one mound visit per pitcher in a single inning without penalty. A second visit to the same pitcher in the same inning results in the pitcher's mandatory removal from the game. Venable's second visit to Schultz meant the young pitcher had to be taken out of the game after facing only five batters.

This gaffe proved particularly costly for the White Sox, who had played a 13-inning game the previous night, heavily taxing their bullpen. Venable's error required the bullpen to pitch an additional 8 2/3 innings. David Sandlin, who replaced Schultz, had to enter the game quickly while still preparing in the bullpen.

"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," Venable said after the game, according to MLB.com. "Obviously that was a mistake. So, just messed it up."

Despite the unusual circumstances of his early entry, Sandlin managed to pitch 5 1/3 innings, throwing 96 pitches and helping to save the bullpen. "I got a little extra time out there," Sandlin said. "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."

Schultz was not intended to pitch deep into the game, according to Venable, but his outing was cut significantly shorter than planned due to the manager's oversight.

The loss marked the White Sox's fourth consecutive defeat, making them the last team in Major League Baseball to endure such a streak this season. The team had not lost more than three games in a row prior to Friday's game.

The White Sox, now with a record of 59-56, will aim to break their losing streak in the second game of their series against the Guardians (58-59) on Saturday.