CHICAGO – Lots of yawns and slow-moving bodies surrounding the Phillies Monday before their game with the Chicago White Sox as a ground stoppage in New York on Sunday didn’t allow the team to leave for Chicago until around midnight. If they were looking for some adrenaline during their game at Rate Field, there was none to be had in front of a sparse crowd. And though the Phillies took a two-run lead early in the game, there was enough juice all around to hold it as they lost 6-2 to the White Sox.

Starting pitcher Cristopher Sánchez was flat for the first few innings, and he uncharacteristically gave up a pair of two-run homers, one to Colson Montgomery, a lefty, in the third and another to Luis Robert, Jr. in the fourth.

“Four runs, two pitches,” said Sánchez, who fell to 9-3 on the season after giving up those four runs in 6.2 innings. “We have to keep grinding and battling. That’s how I was able to go out a couple more innings. I don’t like to make excuses, but yeah, we did have a long day yesterday, a really long day. I felt a little sluggish. Also the weather was really humid today. But that was just a part of it. I did feel a little uncomfortable out there.”

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The whole night felt a bit odd, partly due to the dull atmosphere at the ballpark, partly due to seeing Sánchez struggle early. Giving up a home run to a left hander is something he rarely does.

“He just hung a breaking ball and the home run to Robert was a changeup and it didn’t have the normal action on it that it normally does,” said Rob Thomson. “After the second or third, Sanchy said he just felt a little fatigued. Didn’t know if it was travel, coming off a complete game, humidity, but the fifth, sixth and seventh he turned it on and had the finish back in his pitches.

Even his fastball and slider didn’t seem like they had the finish that it normally does. But then he got it in the fifth.”

But the damage had been done by the White Sox and they improved to 39-68 on the season while the Phillies dropped to 60-46.

The fear of it being a long game after the previous day’s struggles with travel seemed a reality in the first inning as Chicago starting pitcher Davis Martin struck out Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. Harper got a little revenge in the third when he drove in two runs with a single to left to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. It was short-lived as Chicago started having fun with the long ball off Sánchez.

“We hit some balls hard,” said Thomson. “I thought Schwarb had some good at-bats, Harper. All the lefties for the most part. Kemp hits the ball to the wall. I thought we swung ok.”

Just not good enough on this hot and humid night. Though no one wants to deal out the excuses, Sunday’s delay in New York certainly couldn’t have helped.

Mum’s the word

With Thursday’s tread deadline quickly approaching, Rob Thomson was pressed on what may be going on there. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has been with the team through the road trip so far.

“There’s been conversations, but I don’t think we’re necessarily close on anything,” Thomson said. “We had good conversations. I mean really good conversations.” Asked if there are things discussed that would be upgrading the team, Thomson said: “I would think so. I trust other people on that type of stuff. They’re the evaluators. I think we’re all on the same page.”

The biggest name the Phillies have been linked to in various reports is Eugenio Suarez, the power-hitting infielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks who has 36 home runs and 87 RBI this season. Suarez has played all but one game this season at third base. Friday against Pittsburgh, he played first. He left Monday’s game against the Detroit Tigers after getting hit by a pitch on his right hand.

Robertson sees action

Newly acquired veteran left hander David Robertson saw action in Lehigh Valley on Saturday night, pitching one inning and having the strange line of giving up three hits and no runs. Robertson threw 12 pitches, 10 of them for strikes.

“Good,” said Rob Thomson of Robertson’s outing. “He’s going to go again (Tuesday) for an inning. And, yeah, just figure out where we’re at after that. He’s at 92 (miles-per-hour) and I think he gave up three singles. Threw a guy out at the plate, so he didn’t give up any runs. Didn’t strike anybody out and I don’t think he walked anybody. So basically it was fastball, slider, twelve pitches. Yeah, hopefully (he’ll be up). We’ll see.”

After signing him last week, the Phillies optioned Robertson, 40, to Lehigh Valley where he must stay for at least 15 days.

What’s the update on Alec Bohm?

Third baseman Alec Bohm continues his quest to get back to the lineup as soon as possible. He joined the team on Sunday in New York and Monday in Chicago was out on the field getting in some sprinting and other things. “Bohm feels better again today,” said Thomson. “I think he’s going to try and do some glove work with Bobby (Dickerson), not ground balls but glove work. Maybe some dry swings either today or tomorrow.”

Bohm is recuperating from a fractured rib he suffered on July 12 on a pitch by Yu Darvish.

Ryne Sandberg passes

Former Phillies manager and Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg passed away Monday after a battle with cancer. Sandberg was 65.