White Sox’ losing streak stretches to six as Sean Burke turns in rotation’s latest short start

It was another short start by a White Sox pitcher, continuing what has been a bothersome trend of late.

The Sox’ success after the All-Star break is getting to be more and more of a distant memory, as their losing streak reached six with a 3-1 loss Saturday to the Guardians.

Right-hander Sean Burke turned in the latest brief outing, with only 3„ innings a night after Aaron Civale logged the same.

‘‘More just frustrated with [the start] than anything else, kind of hanging out the bullpen to dry a little bit there,’’ Burke said. ‘‘They did a good job picking me up, but I’ve just got to be able to go deeper in games going forward.’’

In the last two spins through the rotation — 11 games, with a bullpen game thrown in there — Sox starters have finished five innings only five times and have gone deeper than that only three times.

The starting staff’s 49 innings and 7.35 ERA since July 28 rank among the worst in the majors.

You’d think that extra work for the bullpen would be problematic, but that’s not what the statistics say. During that stretch of 11 games, Sox relievers have been among the best in the majors, with 48‰ innings and a 2.03 ERA.

‘‘We would like our starters to go a little longer,’’ manager Will Venable said. ‘‘Typically, they have. The bullpen has been asked to do a lot, and they’ve stepped up like they have all year.’’

Sox starters not going deep into games has something of a silver lining: It inadvertently might help the team manage its young pitchers’ innings. But it’s a tough way to win games.

The bullpen has held up its end of the bargain. Relievers Jordan Leasure, Wikelman Gonzalez, Tyler Gilbert and Bryan Hudson combined for 5‰ innings of one-run ball Saturday.

But the once-hot Sox have cooled off. They’re 10-10 since the All-Star break.

Martin on the mend

Veteran left-hander Martin Perez, who is working his way back from an elbow injury, made his second rehab start Friday, this time with Double-A Birmingham. He allowed a run, three hits and three walks in four innings.

Perez’s first rehab outing came with Triple-A Charlotte — he yielded two runs in 2‰ innings — and he’ll make his third start there.

‘‘We don’t have a definite number [of outings] set in mind,’’ general manager Chris Getz said Friday. ‘‘We want to make sure he feels good, feels confident and, of course, [that] he’s productive. And we’ll make a decision from there.’’

Salute your shorts

The Sox paid tribute to former owner Bill Veeck with a slew of promotions in the style of the Hall of Fame innovator.

In addition to circus performers, a 50-foot hot dog and an on-field, between-innings wedding officiated by Ron Kittle, the Sox donned shorts during batting practice, a throwback to Veeck’s decision to have his players wear shorts in 1976.