(Sports Network) - The Chicago White Sox hope to continue their offensive
onslaught this evening when they continue a three-game series with the Texas
Rangers at U.S. Cellular Field.
After managing just two runs in losing the final two games of their four-game
set with the New York Yankees over the weekend, the White Sox' offense
exploded in Tuesday's opener, as Kevin Youkilis smacked his first homer with
the team, while Chris Sale tossed 7 1/3 solid innings to nail down the win in
a 19-2 rout.
Sale (10-2) surrendered a run on five hits and a walk to get the win. The 23-
year-old left-hander is 7-0 with a minuscule 1.67 ERA over his last nine
starts, making him a legitimate candidate to start next week's All-Star Game
in Kansas City.
"He pitched, changed speeds, didn't just use his fastball," said Texas manager
Ron Washington, who will skipper the AL squad next week. "We didn't do much
against him ... that's why he's 10-2, he's a pretty good pitcher."
Youkilis and Adam Dunn cracked back-to-back long balls in a three-homer
opening frame. Alex Rios tallied the other, and A.J. Pierzynski cracked a
round-tripper as part of a nine-run fifth for the AL Central leaders, who have
won seven of their last 10 games. They racked up a season-high 21 hits in the
blowout win.
"Great for our lineup, great for our team to have him in here," White Sox
manager Robin Ventura said of Youkilis. "You get a lot more than just
numbers...you get a good player that people feed off of and he makes your team
better in a lot of ways."
In his first home game with Chicago since his trade from Boston on June 24,
Youkilis had three hits and drove in four.
Roy Oswalt (2-1) was shelled for a career-high 11 runs -- nine earned -- on 13
hits and a walk in just 4 2/3 innings. The 34-year-old had won his first two
starts despite giving up at least nine hits in each outing.
Despite the poor start, Oswalt remained optimistic.
"I feel better, third game back," Oswalt said. "I feel better and better every
time I go out there ... velocity is coming back ... I kept the ball down a
little more."
Hoping for similar support tonight the Rangers turn to righty Scott Feldman,
who has won his last two starts after dropping six in a row. Feldman defeated
the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, holding them to four runs over five
innings. He's 2-6 on the season with a 6.13 ERA.
Feldman has faced the White Sox 11 times (5 starts) and is 2-2 with a 4.95 ERA
against them.
Chicago, meanwhile, will turn to righty Dylan Axelrod, who is 0-1 with a 4.50
ERA. Axelrod pitched well enough to get the win on Thursday against the
Yankees, but received a no-decision, as he allowed two runs and six hits in
seven innings of his team's 4-3 win.
This will be his first appearance against the Rangers.
Texas took two of three from the White Sox earlier in the season.
The Sports Network