THE PAST WEEK: Trying to make up ground in the wild-card race, the White Sox were 3-4 against Cleveland, Boston and Kansas City before Thursday. The four losses were deceiving, however, as Chicago dropped two games by one run and another by two runs.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hampered by season-ending injuries to first baseman Frank Thomas and pitcher David Wells, the White Sox have managed to stay competitive in a tough AL Central that features the surging Indians and fading Twins. Chicago has some pop in the lineup with Magglio Ordonez, Jose Canseco, Paul Konerko and Chris Singleton but boasts only one player with a batting average over .300. The pitching staff has been a surprise but took a hit when James Baldwin was shipped to the Dodgers last week.

ALL-TIME SERIES: This has been relatively even in three previous seasons. The White Sox hold a 17-14 advantage overall and are 8-7 at Comiskey Park. The four games this weekend mark the first time the clubs have met this season.

TAMPA BAY CONNECTIONS: Chicago third basemen Herbert Perry and Tony Graffanino and designated hitter Canseco are former Rays. Perry, who's hitting .270 with four homers and 23 RBI, was claimed off waivers last season. Graffanino, batting .253 with two homers and six RBI, was traded to the White Sox for Tanyon Sturtze after being sent to the minors. Canseco signed with Chicago last month and is batting .292 with eight home runs and 20 RBI. ... Rays pitching coach Bill Fischer pitched for the White Sox from 1956-58 and had a 9-11 record. As a rookie, he allowed just one home run in 124 innings. ... Sturtze appeared in 11 games with the White Sox in 1999 and 2000, going 1-2 with a 12.06 ERA last season.

WHO'S HOT: Ordonez, who needed one home run for 100 in his career before Thursday, is batting .419 with seven doubles in his past eight games. He had a seven-game hitting streak broken Wednesday against the Royals.

WHO'S NOT: SS Jose Valentin is 8-for-41 (.195) in his past 13 games and 16-for-75 (.213) since returning from the disabled list on June 24.

- Compiled by Kevin Kelly.

Back to Sports

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

From the Times sports desk

Bucs
Bucs' Jackson gets his chance

Brooks vs. Bucs: It's quite a site

With Brooks out, linebackers shifted

Bucs Training Camp

College football
Probation talk casts shadow

Spurrier deflects praise from writers

UF is on top, UM 2nd, FSU 5th in the coaches preseason poll

Preps
Practicing caution

Heat stress and athletic participation

Canon Cup special for duo

Rough start can't keep Dunedin from Series

Expansion spreads to Gulfport

Devil Rays
O's lend the Rays a hand

LaMar's cuts give the budget a boost

Up next: White Sox

Colleges
Amended lawsuit seeks $10-million from USF

Motorsports
Stewart struggles with new persona

Stewart's notable outbursts

Crowded field places focus on provisionals

On the air
Tour aids network demand

NFL
NFL briefs

From the wire

From the state sports wire Jacksonville's Spicer placed on IR after leg surgery
FIU-Western Kentucky game postponed because of Jeanne
Brown anxious to face old team for first time
Dolphins' desperate defense readies for Roethlisberger
Former Sarasota lineman sheds tough-guy image with Michigan
Rothstein rejoins Heat as assistant
No. 16 Florida has history on its side against Kentucky
FSU and Clemson QBs both off to slow starts