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White Sox Try To Extend Streaks, Take On Athletics

(Sports Network) - The Chicago White Sox will be attempting to extend two lengthy winning streaks when the resurgent American League Central leaders begin a four-game series with the Oakland Athletics tonight at U.S. Cellular Field.

Chicago amassed its seventh consecutive victory with Wednesday's 6-5, 10- inning triumph over Cleveland. The win was also the ninth in a row at U.S. Cellular Field, where the club has amassed a stellar 30-11 record so far this season. The White Sox have won 18 of their last 20 home contests.

A.J. Pierzynski led off the bottom of the 10th with a game-winning solo home run to give Chicago a three-game sweep of the Indians. The abrasive catcher also belted a solo homer in the second inning.

Brian Anderson added a two-run double for the White Sox and Jermaine Dye homered to keep up his recent torrid stretch at the plate. The standout right fielder has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games and is batting .380 (19- for-50) with seven homers and 19 RBI over his tear,

Adam Russell (2-0) worked a scoreless top of the 10th to record the win, the reliever's second in as many nights. He got the final out in the 10th during Chicago's 3-2 extra-inning decision over Cleveland on Tuesday.

The White Sox' impressive run will be put to the test with tonight's matchup against Oakland's Justin Duchscherer. The converted reliever has put together an All-Star caliber campaign, as he currently leads the majors with a 1.91 earned run average and is holding enemy hitters to a .197 batting average through his 13 starts.

Duchscherer has worked seven innings or more in four straight starts and yielded just one run in each of those outings. The right-hander had won four consecutive starts prior to Saturday's hard-luck 1-0 loss to San Francisco, in which he limited the Giants to one run and just two hits over eight effective innings.

This will be Duchscherer's first career start against the White Sox, but he has compiled a 3-1 record and 2.76 ERA over 13 previous relief appearances versus Chicago.

Javier Vazquez gets the assignment for the White Sox in the opener and hopes to put a recent rough stretch in the rear view mirror.

Vazquez has allowed five runs in each of his last four starts, going 1-2 with a 5.64 ERA over that span. Control problems have been a recent issue for the veteran righty as well, as he's walked 13 batters in 22 1/3 innings during those four starts.

He lasted just 4 1/3 innings against the Cubs on Saturday, surrendering five runs and nine hits while not factoring in the decision of his team's 6-5 win.

Vazquez owns a 1-2 record with a 6.60 ERA in five career starts against the A's and is 5-1 with a 4.68 ERA through eight home outings this season.

He'll be facing an Oakland squad that has dropped four of its last five tests and is coming off Wednesday's 7-4 loss to AL West leader Anaheim.

The Athletics led 3-2 after 5 1/2 innings, but Anaheim moved in front to stay with a three-run sixth. Juan Rivera delivered the biggest blow of the frame, a two-run homer off Keith Foulke (0-3) that gave the Angels a 5-3 edge.

Oakland starter Dana Eveland pitched the first 5 2/3 innings and was charged with three runs allowed on four hits. Mark Ellis led the A's offensively with two hits and a pair of RBI.

Athletics shortstop Bobby Crosby left Wednesday's contest in the eighth inning with a strained left hamstring and is questionable to play this evening.

These teams split a two-game series in Chicago back in April. Oakland has won in five of the last six meetings with the White Sox, but is just 2-6 over its eight most recent games at U.S. Cellular Field.

Chicago White Sox

Scoreboard

Wed, Aug. 27 FINAL
Chicago WSox (74-56) 3
Baltimore (62-66) 11

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