ESPN

CHICAGO -- Four weeks into the regular season with a brand new team and already things seem to be as normal as they can be on Planet Pierzynski.

Former Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski has been getting along swimmingly with his new Texas Rangers teammates. He nearly caught a perfect game during the first week of the season, he's already been back to Chicago in a series against the Cubs and recently had the occasion to torment the Los Angeles Angels yet again with a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning.

Next comes the most awkward stage, when he plays against the White Sox in a three-game series that begins Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.

White Sox pitcher John Danks seemed to regret the fact that he won't be there as he heads out to Birmingham, Ala., on a minor-league rehab assignment this week. But the injured pitcher and native Texan already got a chance to check out his former teammate play in person.

"I saw him the opening night when they were playing in Houston," Danks said. "It was weird seeing him back there. Obviously we all know A.J. and how good of a player he was. It was fun to watch him, and kinda weird to not see him in a White Sox uniform."

(Read full post)

CHICAGO -- The lone bright spot on an otherwise tough day for the White Sox was a Paul Konerko drive that inched him up a pair of home-run lists.

Konerko’s two-run home run in the third inning off Tampa Bay Rays starter David Price was the 426th of his career, tying him with Billy Williams for 45th on the all-time list. He is also just 29 home runs behind Frank Thomas on the White Sox’s all-time list.

In typical Konerko fashion, he was less worried about his place in history and more concerned about the game that had just been played and the next one in front of him.

“It’s cool, I guess,” Konerko said about matching Williams. “I don’t think too much about it. Right now, I’m one of those guys trying to find a feel. I feel good in one at-bat and the other at-bat it might go away.”

Against Price, Konerko is now 10-for-20 (.500) lifetime with two home runs and six RBIs. The long ball also ended his 65 at-bat homerless streak at U.S. Cellular Field. His last one came Sept. 25 of last season against the Cleveland Indians.

“Facing some good pitching, you just have to strap it on,” Konerko said. “So I’m not thinking too much about [home-run lists] because I know the guy on the mound doesn’t give a [expletive]. So I can’t, either, and I wouldn’t either way. They’re trying to get me out. As long as that’s happening, I have to be focused in.”

CHICAGO -- While the bullpen strains under the weight it is being asked to carry and the defense continues to provide more assistance to the opposing offense, the Chicago White Sox continue to drift aimlessly.

Another loss by a reliever was combined with two more White Sox errors that led to an 8-3 defeat by the Tampa Bay Rays and a 3-5 homestand that followed a 3-7 road trip.

Making it that much worse is that the White Sox need to step up their game in the wake of so many April injuries, not regress in areas that were a supposed strength.

The bullpen is still top-notch, but a lack of run support has left it pitching in tight games each and every night, and things haven’t always gone the Sox's way in such circumstances. Nate Jones was tagged with the loss Sunday, the bullpen’s sixth loss this season. Only the Toronto Blue Jays and their eight bullpen defeats have more in the American League.

“We’re looking at what you have here and what’s available, and you go from there,” manager Robin Ventura said. “You try to win games right now not waiting and looking in the future. Guys are playing hard and this is one of those that is probably a work in progress of trying to figure that out and who’s playing and who’s doing what. But again, you try to make due and make sure everybody is giving a constant effort. That’s all you can ask.”

Ultimately, it all goes back to that ineffective offense. Adam Dunn, whose struggles have been mighty in the early going, continued to show signs of life with a first-inning RBI single. Team leader Paul Konerko added a two-run home run.

Everybody else, though, was an easy target for Rays starter David Price, who snapped a streak of five starts without a victory. His last truimph came Sept. 30 of last season, against the White Sox.

The White Sox have already used the disabled list six times in the first 24 games, an extreme worst-case scenario for a club that lacks not only roster depth but in potential breakthrough prospects at the minor league level.

Tyler Green (second base), Conor Gillaspie (third base) and Dewayne Wise (center field) all filled in for injured players Sunday and were a combined 1-for-10.

“I don’t sense anybody looking around saying we can’t win with what we have,” Konerko said. “I think the only time you think about those guys is when you see them. I think every team is going to have that little span during the season where it seems like every day somebody’s going down. Hopefully, this is ours right now and we start getting guys back and we’re kind of over that and it’s done with and some other team’s going to have to deal with that in August or September, maybe.”

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox were upended 8-3 by the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday to end an abbreviated homestand with a 3-5 record.

How it happened: Paul Konerko hit his fourth home run and Adam Dunn continued his revival with a first-inning RBI single. But the White Sox sprung a leak in the later innings as Matt Joyce hit a game-tying two-run home run in the sixth inning, while the bullpen, combined with an error from Alex Rios, was touched for a three-run eighth inning. Ben Zobrist singled in a run in the eighth against Nate Jones for a 4-3 Rays lead, and with the White Sox almost out of the inning, Rios dropped a two-out shallow fly ball for two more runs.

What it means: The combination of an inconsistent offense and a less-than-trustworthy defense continues to cause the White Sox problems. Dylan Axelrod gave up three runs over six innings, but the White Sox offense could only match that total. Add to that two more errors, one of which led to the two eighth-inning runs, and the White Sox simply have too much to overcome in a daily basis. The White Sox entered play on Sunday tied with the Indians for most errors among AL Central teams (14).

Outside the box: Konerko managed to move himself up two home run lists Sunday. He not only hit his 426th home run to tie Billy Williams for 45th on the all-time list, but he also closed the gap on Frank Thomas’ White Sox career home-run mark. Konerko is now 29 home runs away from Thomas, who had 448 in a White Sox uniform. Konerko hit seven big league home runs before joining the White Sox.

Offbeat: It might be time to update Conor Gillaspie’s profile from a developing defender to one who has an unconventional give-and-take style. Gillaspie has always been a work in progress with the glove but has been a pleasant surprise since coming over to the White Sox. He made a first-inning error on an easy ground ball, only to atone for the miscue with a diving stop to his left on a ground ball from Evan Longoria and throw to first for the out. He made a similar play earlier in the homestand to cut down a runner at the plate.

Up next: The White Sox will have a day off Monday before opening an eight-game, three-city road trip at Texas. In the series opener on Tuesday, White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana (2-0, 2.78) will oppose Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish (4-1, 1.65) in the 7:05 p.m. start from Rangers Ballpark at Arlington.

CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn appears to have seamlessly slid into his new role as the top baseball executive in the organization. Although former GM Ken Williams has a title above Hahn’s position, it is clear the Winnetka, Ill., native is calling most of the shots. The team's early struggles with key injuries that have contributed to a slow start have not changed Hahn’s optimistic demeanor or his accessibility.

Having had ten years in the trenches as the club's assistant GM appears to have made the transition easier for the people he works with."There is always a change when someone new takes over,“ said second-year manager Robin Ventura. “I don’t think anything has changed here philosophy wise. For me, it has been easy because we spent a lot of time together last year. We are dealing with different issues but handling things in similar ways. Rick and Kenny are just different personalities.”

Hahn has a less aggressive style by nature than Williams but is known as a stone-cold hardliner when it comes to making decisions on talent and money issues. The friendly exterior person he projects should not be confused with the single-minded executive who has shown he is not afraid to say no or turn away from a bad deal. Hahn made his bones by saving the franchise millions of dollars in contract layouts. He signed young players like Mark Buehrle to long-term deals in the early stages of their careers. That type of proactive move worked two-fold: It provided security for the player and another revenue stream to add other good players to the White Sox mix.

The only player who has been here longer than Hahn is team captain Paul Konerko. The veteran first baseman looks at Hahn as a top communicator and a shrewd handler of people. “There won’t be any times where Rick would be caught saying 'why didn’t we think of that?‘" Konerko said in explaining Hahn’s penchant for detail. “Rick and Kenny are the type of baseball men who are dialed in 24 hours a day.”

Hahn has had to adjust to people treating him in a different matter rather than the reverse. “I have seen a difference in the office staff at times but not with the baseball scouts and personnel,“ he said. “Everyone means it out of respect, saying things like ‘I know your busy,‘ when in reality I was the one who initiated the conversation.”

The Sox's poor start as a team while losing two starting position players within a week has tested the 39-year-old executive early in his tenure as GM. “I certainly feel more responsible when things get difficult as you weigh various depth options maybe knowing that right piece isn’t there waiting for you,” Hahn said. “It already has been a rough year injury wise, and, for the most part, we have had someone to come up and help. I do feel a greater responsibility when things don’t go how we planned it to go.“

The White Sox GM is still working closely with Williams, who is out looking at high school and college players for the June draft. “He is always there as a resource even if he isn’t here on a daily basis,” Hahn said. “This has been a little bit of a transition for him. So far, I think it has been good for both of us."

CHICAGO -- The lack of run support for Jake Peavy on Saturday was reminiscent of times during his 2012 season. The White Sox veteran had nothing to show for the seven innings of one-run, six-hit baseball he pitched against the Minnesota Twins. The no-decision was the result of another lethargic offensive day by his teammates.

"We said from the first homestand that we are going to live and die with the home run,“ Peavy said. “There are times when we won’t hit it; those are the times you are going to get beat. It is going to come, and we are going to hit some homers. The big boys are going to get going.”

Chicago has been in a season-long funk with runners in scoring position (17-99 for a .172 batting average, the lowest in the AL). Adam Dunn continued his recent slump, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Dunn is one for his past 37, however, no one did much after Alejandro De Aza’s home run to lead off the White Sox first inning.

Peavy acknowledged that he was better equipped to deal with a lack of run support than some of his younger teammates.

“I would rather it be me than [Jose] Quintana or [Chris] Sale or somebody that has not been through it,” Peavy said. “I have really pitched my whole career in tight ballgames. You go back and look at some of those years in San Diego -- I didn’t have a lot of run support. I am fine with it and okay with pitching in tight games. I appreciate [manager Robin Ventura leaving me in some big situations]."

Peavy went through the entire 2012 season with a small amount of runs scored behind him. His offense gave him the fourth-fewest runs scored per outing for a starting pitcher in the league last season. Fourteen of the club's first 17 games have been decided by three runs or less.

“It was a wasted outing for Jake," first baseman Paul Konerko said in reference to his team’s offensive struggles. “The work is there, the approach is good. Everything is in the right place. It just hasn’t happened yet. We just have to keep grinding.”

Peavy has been dominant against Minnesota the past two seasons, lowering his ERA to 1.64 in his past five starts against the Twins.

“When you start a game and your team loses, it is not fun,“ he said. “I believe we will find a way. We went through some rough stretches last year, and, hopefully, we can right the ship sooner or later.“

CHICAGO -- Already without the injured Dayan Viciedo and Gordon Beckham, the Chicago White Sox are now dealing with another hole in the batting order.

Adam Dunn is in the midst of a free fall that has taken his batting average under the .100 mark and has contributed heavily to the team's overall offensive inconsistencies.

With an 0-for-4 game in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by the Minnesota Twins -- not to mention three more strikeouts to boot -- Dunn has just six hits in 61 at-bats this season and practically nothing for the past two weeks. Starting with the White Sox’s game at Washington on April 10, Dunn has gone 1-for-37.

And while it’s true that slumps to start the season are magnified, an .027 batting average over any 10-game sample would be cause for alarm. Going back even further, Dunn has just four hits with 21 strikeouts over his past 54 at-bats.

“Today aside, I don’t feel terrible up there,” Dunn said. “Obviously, the results aren’t there, and this is a result-oriented game. That’s the first thing people think is that there’s something wrong. I don’t feel bad. You just can’t let it snowball and get in your head and start trying to get four hits on one at-bat.”

While any replacement off the bench figures to produce more than Dunn is offering right now, the White Sox need their power hitter to generate the type of run production he is capable of if they want to be the team they envision. So while a day off here and there could be coming, the team is not about to quit on him now.

Teammates note that Dunn is in a good frame of mind, he just continues to be in another one of those ruts that big power, high strikeout guys like him can get into. Dunn’s ruts just seem to be bigger than most.

“Adam’s not one to really press too much,” said Paul Konerko, who is the yin to Dunn’s yang in that Konerko overanalyzes most everything. “He’s handled it well. He’s been through this stuff before. And a guy like him, I mean, two games and he can get it all back. I’m not saying you want to do that, but when you can do what he can do, you can kind of jump back into the ballgame quick when you can do what he can do with the bat.”

It remains to be seen what manager Robin Ventura does with Sunday’s lineup. Dunn has sat out just once this season, when the White Sox were in Washington on the just-concluded road trip and the DH spot wasn’t available.

The White Sox will be facing Minnesota Twins left-hander Scott Diamond on Sunday, and it could be a good opportunity to get the left-handed-swinging Dunn a break to clear his mind.

“I think he’s frustrated; anybody would be,” Ventura said. “It’s just one of those where you just got to keep grinding through it, and he’ll eventually get through it. It’s just one of those where both teams had a big [strike] zone today.

“It’s a frustrating day, but I think it’s one of those that he’ll just keep grinding and get out of it. But this is the tough part. This is not the time for guys to start thinking about other things. Just go out and try to do things to help your team win instead of thinking about little individual stuff.”

Plate umpire C.B. Bucknor had such a liberal strike zone that 10 separate times he called out a player looking at strike three. There were 22 strikeouts in the game, with the White Sox striking out 13 times.

Dunn struck out looking two times with his other strikeout coming when he failed to check his swing. He made no excuses, though.

“When you’re getting pitches to hit you need to hit them and not put yourself in that situation,” Dunn said. “When we got some pitches to hit, we didn’t do it.”

CHICAGO -- Here's a quick look at the Chicago White Sox's 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Saturday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field:

How it happened: The Twins scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error by Alexei Ramirez in the 10th inning. After a weather-related cancellation on Friday, right-hander Jake Peavy and Twins starter Vance Worley kicked off the abbreviated two-game series. Alejandro De Aza led off the White Sox's first inning with his fourth home run of the season, his fifth career leadoff homer. Twins outfielder Josh Willingham singled home the tying run in the third inning, scoring Brian Dozier.

Peavy kept his streak of good pitching alive. In seven innings, he allowed just one run on six hits with nine strikeouts to lower his ERA to 3.20. Worley also went seven in a no-decision.

Two Web Gem-caliber plays by the Sox in the eighth inning preserved a tie. Third baseman Conor Gillaspie made a diving backhand stop of a bases-loaded one-hopper and forced Chris Parmelee out at home with a perfect throw from his knees. Paul Konerko had an over-the-shoulder catch in foul territory to end the inning.

What it means: Peavy entered the game having defeated Minnesota in four straight starts, carrying a 1.73 ERA throughout those outings. As a team, the White Sox came into the contest with a .177 batting average with runners in scoring position (lowest in the American League). They were 0-for-3 with men in scoring position on Saturday. Adam Dunn is in a 1-for-36 slump and struck out three times in four at-bats.

Outside the box: Outfielder Dayan Viciedo was placed on the 15-day DL due to a strained oblique. Outfielder Blake Tekotte was recalled from Triple-A. Pitching coach Don Cooper returned to the team after missing 10 days with diverticulitis. The Sox had won 12 of their previous 14 games against the Twins.

Up next: On Sunday, RHP Gavin Floyd (0-3, 6.32) faces off against LHP Scott Diamond (0-1, 8.31) in the finale of this two-game series.

TORONTO -- The starting pitcher throws well, the bullpen keeps the score close and the lineup gets a clutch run or two to pull ahead late. It's a simple recipe for winning, yet obviously getting all three parts of the game working at the same time is easier said than done, as the Chicago White Sox could attest in the early part of this season.

On Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays, however, the Sox received two things -- quality pitching and key hits -- that have been in short supply for the club. Starter Dylan Axelrod gave the Sox six solid innings, limiting the Jays to two runs and keeping his team in the game despite a shaky final frame. After the bullpen did its characteristic superb job of keeping Toronto in check, the heart of the White Sox order delivered the go-ahead runs in the top of the ninth to put the club ahead for good in the 4-3 victory.

"Those are the big at-bats and we finally got the big hit," manager Robin Ventura said. "Again, it's a work in progress and you keep going at it over and over again. That's the kind of thing you're looking for."

Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko both drew walks to lead off the ninth, and after a Conor Gillaspie strikeout, Dayan Viciedo came to the plate. Viciedo had gone 0-for-3 against Jays starter Josh Johnson and fell behind 1-and-2 against reliever Steve Delabar. The slugger held steady against a close 95 mph fastball that just missed the strike zone and didn't chase a ball in the dirt, then blasted a 3-2 pitch into deep center field for an RBI double.

It was a much-needed big hit for Viciedo, who entered the game hitting just .184 for the season and was 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. After a three-hit performance on Monday, and Tuesday's clutch double, there are signs the Cuban outfielder was turning things around.

"I was very calm and was concentrating at swinging at good pitches," Viciedo said through an interpreter. "I had to get a good pitch to hit here. I felt calm during that at-bat, different than the other ones. I trust the work I've been doing in the cage. I'm getting better slowly and I'm feeling better slowly but definitely I've stayed positive."

The winning run was scored by Konerko, who came home on a Hector Gimenez sacrifice fly. It was one of three runs for Konerko, who also scored from third on a wild pitch in the second and hit a solo homer in the seventh. While Gimenez's fly ball went fairly deep into right field, it was still a challenge for the less-than-speedy team captain.

(Read full post)

TORONTO -- The Chicago White Sox scored a pair of ninth-inning runs and then hung on for a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday at the Rogers Centre.

How it happened: White Sox starter Dylan Axelrod and Jays starter Josh Johnson engaged in a pitchers' duel for much of the game, with each right-hander allowing two runs over six and seven innings, respectively. Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko led off the ninth with consecutive walks, paving the way for Dayan Viciedo to drive in a run on a long fly ball to center field. Konerko later came in to score the game winner on a Hector Gimenez sacrifice fly. Addison Reed allowed his first run of the season in the ninth to cut Chicago's lead to one, but the closer held on to record his fifth save.

What it means: The White Sox picked up their second road win of the season, improving their record to 2-6 away from U.S. Cellular Field this season. Konerko's home run in the seventh inning was the 425th of his career, putting him one away from tying Cubs great Billy Williams for 45th on the all-time list. Konerko scored three runs in a game for the first time since May 26, 2012.

Outside the box: Axelrod threw a quality start (six innings, two earned runs, seven hits, one walk, four strikeouts), and yet the right-hander came ever so close to avoiding damage altogether. Axelrod twice allowed two-out solo homers on 1-and-2 counts -- Colby Rasmus connected on a long ball in the second inning, and J.P. Arencibia went deep in the sixth to temporarily give Toronto the lead. The two homers were the first homers allowed by Axelrod this season, and he had given up just one home run over his previous 32 1/3 innings dating to last season.

Offbeat: Axelrod was aided by some quality glove work from the White Sox infielders. Alexei Ramirez made a nifty jumping grab of a Brett Lawrie line drive to end the fifth inning. Dunn snagged a liner the next inning, a scorcher off the bat of Maicer Izturis that went right to Dunn at first base. Dunn made the catch and then stepped on first to double off Rasmus for an unassisted double play.

Up next: The White Sox play the third game of their four-game series with the Blue Jays on Wednesday at 6:07 p.m. CT. After throwing seven shutout, one-hit innings in his previous start, left-hander Jose Quintana (0-0, 4.09 ERA) returns to the mound against fellow southpaw J.A. Happ (2-0, 3.48).

TORONTO -- After 12 seasons of seeing Mark Buehrle work his magic in Chicago, it was perhaps fitting that the veteran southpaw delivered what manager Robin Ventura called "a clinic" now that Buehrle was finally an opposing pitcher.

Buehrle led his Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-3 win over the Sox with his signature array of off-speed pitches that left Chicago's lineup feeling like they could've done more.

It was a classic bend-but-don't-break outing from Buehrle, who allowed two runs on nine hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings. The Sox struck quickly in the first, delivering four singles and scoring twice, but couldn't put any more runs on the board despite putting at least one baserunner on in all but one of Buehrle's innings.

"Once he got through that first inning it kind of became a clinic on hitting spots, changing speeds. You've seen this his whole career," Ventura said. "He's a smart pitcher who used our aggressiveness at times, hit spots, added a little, took a little off. ... You can sit there and stay patient all you want, but he's the kind of guy who senses when you're patient and then throws a fastball in there that you think you should hit. That's when it gets frustrating as a hitter. He just frustrated a lot of guys today, teasing them with a little bit of this and a little bit of that."

(Read full post)

CLEVELAND -- The Chicago White Sox will be greeted by a familiar face today as former teammate Mark Buehrle will take the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Buehrle is one of the most celebrated pitchers in Sox history with a World Series ring, perfect game and another no-hitters on his resume.

(Read full post)

CLEVELAND — Seven strong innings from Jake Peavy coupled with home runs from Paul Konerko and Alejandro De Aza helped the White Sox fuel a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday afternoon.

How it happened: After Chicago starting pitcher Jake Peavy allowed a first pitch home run to Indians center fielder Michael Bourn, he settled in to dominate for much of the afternoon, striking out 11 batters and walking none. Cleveland starter Brett Myers went six innings, but allowed a two-out, two-run home run to Paul Konerko. Alejandro De Aza followed with a home run of his own, a 410-foot blast off Cleveland's Vinnie Pestano in the eighth inning. White Sox relievers Matt Thornton and Addison Reed combined to throw two scoreless innings of relief. Reed secured his fourth save of 2013.

What it means: The White Sox avoid an 0-6 start on the road and head to Toronto with a little momentum. Peavy's seven innings allowed manager Robin Ventura to let his bullpen rest after being overused in Washington and on Saturday night in Cleveland. Eleven of the team's 12 games this season have been decided by three or fewer runs. The Sox are 1-1 in two-run games.

Outside the box: This was Jake Peavy's 32nd career game where he struck out at least 10 batters, but just the third where he walked zero. He struck out 11 while walking zero on June 30 of 2012, but the result was a 4-0 complete game loss to the New York Yankees. He goes to 5-3 on his career against the Indians. Also, White Sox third baseman Connor Gallaspie went 5-for-11 on the series, raising his average on the season to .444.

Offbeat: Paul Konerko continues to terrorize the Cleveland Indians. In 230 games against the Tribe, he is the active leader in home runs (47) and runs batted in (173). In 17 games against Cleveland in 2012 alone, Konerko hit .328 with three home runs and 15 RBI.

Up next: The White Sox road trip heads across the border to Toronto as Gavin Floyd (0-2, 5.56 ERA) will take the hill against long-time Chicago starting pitcher Mark Buehrle (0-0, 10.24 ERA).

CLEVELAND -- With the season still young and the weather still cold, All-Star first baseman Paul Konerko will be the White Sox designated hitter on Saturday afternoon as they look to even up their series with the Cleveland Indians. The team’s usual designated hitter, Adam Dunn, will play first base in Konerko’s absence.

“With the weather and everything, for [Konerko], it’s easier to keep him loose,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of his slight lineup change. “He had mentioned it earlier in Chicago, so we will go with it today -- maybe tomorrow, I don’t know.”

Konerko, at times, feels that his approach at the plate can be impacted negatively if he is forced to lead off an inning after being sedentary in the field for any considerable amount of time. A career .283 hitter, Konerko’s batting average when leading off an inning in 2013 is .091. In 2012, these averages were .298 and .263, respectively.

In Konerko’s place, Ventura will play Dunn, a player who he feels is more than capable of filling in for the six-time All-Star as he has two other times in this young season.

“Paul has played first base more, so he’s probably better at picking balls out of the dirt and stuff like that,” Ventura said. “Adam, as big as he is, he’s athletic enough to feel comfortable over there once he’s been over there enough. In part of spring training, we had him playing over there quite a bit.”

Dunn, who can also play left field when needed, could also be called upon to fill in given that the team is carrying only four outfielders on the 25-man roster and used the roster spot vacated by Gordon Beckham (wrist) to add an arm in the bullpen.

“I think where we are at now, if we need to start moving people around, [Dunn] is the option to go out there,” Ventura said of left field. “I don’t see it being like this for a month, but right now, it works.”

WASHINGTON -- The White Sox couldn’t come through with clutch hits in the first two games of the Washington series. They didn't do much better in the series finale.

Chicago was a combined 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position in losses on Tuesday and Wednesday. The White Sox went just 3-for-13 in the same category Thursday despite getting 13 hits overall, and that lack of timely hitting proved very costly and let Washington wrap up a series sweep with a 7-4 victory.

“We actually swung it pretty good,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “We left a few guys on [base] early. This is a tough team. You have to take advantage of everything if you’re going to beat them.”

The White Sox didn’t take advantage of much at all. They knocked around Washington starter Dan Haren for three runs on 10 hits in five innings, but the right-hander kept squirming out of trouble and got the win.

Chicago left 11 runners on base overall, but eight of those came in the first five innings when Haren was pitching. The Sox kept getting the hits. In fact, five players finished with two hits in this game. They just didn’t come at the right time.

That was the difference in this game. Washington finished with 10 hits -- three fewer than the Sox -- but the Nationals went 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Plus, the Nats went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position in those first two games and finished the series 11-for-25. That’s a long way from Chicago’s 4-for-28, and it's also why Washington kept scoring runs at the right times.

“We didn’t play terribly; we just got beat out there,” Chicago first baseman Paul Konerko said. “I mean, they did just every little [thing]. All the parts of the game -- we weren’t bad at them. We were OK at them actually, but they were just a little bit better, and that’s why they won the games.”