Currently: Pitching hasn’t been the strength of the Chicago White Sox lately, but things could finally be taking a positive turn.
Looking to build on a promising effort on the mound, the White Sox will try to earn a series victory against the Boston Red Sox on Monday at U.S. Cellular Field.
Chicago (65-51) starters have compiled a 4.18 ERA on the year, but have been unimpressive in posting a 6.41 ERA through the first nine games of August.
The staff was dealt an even bigger blow with the loss of starter Jose Contreras, who suffered a season-ending ruptured left Achilles’ tendon in Saturday’s loss to Boston (67-51).
On Sunday, however, the White Sox bounced back and won for the fourth time in six games, receiving a strong effort from starter Gavin Floyd and getting 3 1-3 perfect innings from three relievers to preserve a 6-5 victory.
“It was the perfect time for us because of our situation, where we’re at,” reliever Octavio Dotel said. “We really need to win.”
A win in Monday’s finale would give the White Sox a series victory over the Red Sox for the first time since taking two of three at Fenway Park from Aug. 13-15, 2004. They haven’t won a four-game series against them since securing the final three matchups of a set from July 3-6, 1997 in Chicago.
The White Sox moved back into first place in the AL Central on Sunday, taking a one-half game over Minnesota. Boston, meanwhile, leads the Twins by just 1 1/2 games for the wild card.
John Danks (9-4, 3.21 ERA) has been one of Chicago’s most successful starters this year and will start the finale.
The White Sox have won nine of Danks’ last 13 starts—a stretch in which the left-hander has gone 6-0 with a 3.36 ERA. He held Detroit to one run and four hits while fanning six in 6 2-3 innings of a 5-1 home victory on Wednesday.
Chicago could use a similar performance from Danks on Monday, though he won’t have an easy task versus the Red Sox. In losing both of his starts against them last season, he was roughed up for nine runs and 12 hits over 9 1-3 innings.
Carlos Quentin hit his AL-leading 32nd homer in Sunday’s victory, while Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye also went deep for the White Sox, who held on behind their bullpen.
“We just couldn’t push that tying run across,” Boston manager Terry Francona said.
The Red Sox will try to put Sunday’s defeat behind them with Josh Beckett (10-8, 4.08) on the mound.
The right-hander ended a personal three-start losing streak—a stretch in which he posted a 5.31 ERA—with an 8-2 victory in Kansas City on Tuesday. He limited the Royals to two runs and four hits, and also fanned seven in 6 2-3 innings.
To make it two in a row, Beckett looks to win his fourth straight start versus the White Sox. He is 3-0 with a 4.64 ERA in four career outings against them, and gave up six runs and 11 hits, while striking out 14 over 11 2-3 innings in winning both matchups last year.
Boston’s Mike Lowell had a three-run homer on Sunday, while Dustin Pedroia went 1-for-4 to push his road hitting streak to 29 games—the longest such stretch for a Red Sox player since Tris Speaker’s 29-game run in 1913.
The second baseman has hit .422 (54-for-128) with six homers and 16 RBIs during his road stretch.
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