(Sports Network) - Now is not the time for the Chicago White Sox to start
slumping.
In the hunt for a division title, the struggling White Sox look to stop a
four-game losing streak when they begin a three-game series versus the lowly
Minnesota Twins on Monday from U.S. Cellular Field.
The White Sox were swept in three games at Detroit over the weekend and now
share the AL Central lead with the Tigers. In Sunday night's 4-2 loss at
Comerica Park, Chris Sale had a rough outing and was reached for all four runs
in six innings.
"Tomorrow is a new day," White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "One thing
we've been doing all year is just look at the next day and hopefully tomorrow
will be the day that we turn it back around and start winning some games."
Alejandro De Aza homered for Chicago, which is two games off the Wild Card
chase and lost three of four at Baltimore before being swept in Detroit. De
Aza was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to Sunday's game due to
bruised left ribs.
Chicago will roll the dice with Hector Santiago on Monday, as he will make the
first start of his career. Santiago is 2-1 with a 3.91 earned run average in
36 relief appearances this season and has faced Minnesota three times in a
reserve role in 2012, spanning five innings. The southpaw threw a scoreless
inning of relief at Baltimore on Thursday.
It would be nice for Santiago if slugger Adam Dunn is in the lineup tonight.
Dunn has been bothered by a right oblique injury the past few days. The White
Sox are opening a 10-game homestand versus Minnesota, Kansas City and Detroit.
Meanwhile, the Twins had won two straight and three of four games before
losing, 6-4, in Sunday's series finale with the Royals.
Chris Parmelee homered, Alexi Casilla had two RBI and Joe Mauer finished with
three hits for Minnesota, which is playing out the string and is hoping to
spoil Chicago's hopes of a division title.
Minnesota's Esmerling Vasquez got the loss in his first career start and was
charged with five runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts over
5 2/3 innings.
"Vasquez was good for his first outing out there," Minnesota manager Ron
Gardenhire said. "He was misfiring a little bit early, but he settled in
pretty decent."
Gardenhire will have Samuel Deduno on the mound Monday and he is 5-2 with a
3.72 ERA in 10 starts. Deduno ended a personal two-game slide in a 10-0 win
over Seattle on Wednesday and delivered nine Ks over seven shutout innings.
The righty has never faced the White Sox and is 2-2 in six road starts.
Chicago is 9-3 against the Twins this season after splitting 18 matchups a
year ago.
The Sports Network