WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF MAY 1, White Sox rally late for wild win over Orioles By Brittany Ghiroli and Ben Standig / MLB.com April 30th, 2016

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1 WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF MAY 1, 2016 White Sox rally late for wild win over Orioles By Brittany Ghiroli and Ben Standig / MLB.com April 30th, 2016 BALTIMORE -- Jose Abreu's RBI single in the ninth inning gave the White Sox an 8-7 win over the Orioles in a seesaw affair on Saturday night at a cold and rainy Camden Yards. Abreu singled off reliever Vance Worley, who took over with one out and a runner on first base after Orioles closer Zach Britton exited with a left ankle sprain. "I don't know what it is," Abreu said through a translator. "I guess it's because all the energy and good vibes we have right now, working hard every day and rooting for each other to win the games. It doesn't matter if we're behind late in the games because we have confidence in ourselves that we can go back and win games." Baltimore tied the score in the previous inning as Chris Davis snapped Matt Albers' franchise record of 30 consecutive scoreless appearances with a two-out, two-run double off lefty Zach Duke. Albers, a former Oriole, recorded the first two outs of the inning, but he exited after hitting Adam Jones with a pitch. After Carlos Sanchez doubled and scored on Abreu's single to tie it at 5, Todd Frazier sent O's setup man Darren O'Day's 1-2 pitch into the Baltimore bullpen. It was Frazier's seventh homer of the year and gave the Sox their first lead since the fourth inning. Frazier's blast also took righty Mat Latos off the hook, despite his shortest start of the season. Latos (5-0), who had allowed just two earned runs in 24 1/3 innings entering the game, was tagged for four runs over five innings, including solo homers by Pedro Alvarez and Jonathan Schoop. "What I liked about it was the fact that it helped the team," Alvarez, who fell a triple short of the cycle, said of his first home run with the Os. "It got the ball rolling a little bit for that inning, and that's all that mattered in terms of good feeling." Orioles starter Kevin Gausman went six innings in his second outing of the season and allowed three runs, including Brett Lawrie's third homer. Lawrie also walked and scored off reliever Mychal Givens in the seventh, a call that was ruled as stands after the Orioles' replay challenge. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Rally caps: Chicago's middle part of the lineup saved the day not once but twice in the final two innings. Frazier's two-run homer in the eighth put the White Sox ahead moments after Abreu's double drove in the first run of the inning off O'Day. Abreu's second hit of the game drove in Eaton with the eventual gamewinning run with two out in the ninth. Eaton also made a great catch in the bottom of the ninth. More > Kim turns tables: Making his fourth start, Hyun Soo Kim delivered his first career extra-base hit on Saturday night and didn't stop there. Signed out of Korea to a two-year contract in the offseason, the left

2 fielder smoked a double down the right-field line in his first at-bat in the third inning and collected a pair of singles to raise his average to.643. Kim also scored a run in the sixth. Latos wiggles off hook: The White Sox starter allowed two earned runs and 13 hits total over four winning starts to open the season. That dominant version didn't show against the Orioles. Staked to a 3-1 lead, Latos allowed four runs and 11 hits in five innings. Among the 11 hits were two fourth-inning home runs plus Alvarez's go-ahead double in the fifth. Even with the rough outing, Latos still sports a tidy 1.84 ERA. O's snap Albers' streak: Albers erased a leadoff walk by getting Kim to hit into a double play. But an error put Machado on base and Albers hit Jones to end his night with Davis' power bat looming. Davis, who is now 2-for-3 with two homers off Duke, ended Albers' impressive scoreless streak with a double into leftcenter. Both runs were unearned, keeping Albers' season ERA at "CD had a big hit off a tough left-hander," Showalter said. "That's about as clutch as you can get. That guy [Duke] is tough on left-handers." VENTURA VENTS The White Sox nearly pulled off a triple play for the second time in eight days. With runners at first and second in the third, they had to settle for two outs, but manager Robin Ventura wasn't having it. Ventura challenged that Machado violated the slide rule at second base, which led to Jones reaching first safely. Following a review, the call was ruled as stands. Ventura argued with crew chief Gerry Davis before being ejected for the 12th time in his career. QUOTABLES "I don't think I could have hit it normal. He's filthy. I actually told [Matt] Wieters before that pitch, 'You going to wish me good luck?'" -- Eaton, on choosing to bunt against Britton with two out in the ninth "It was definitely back-and-forth really the entire game. It's two really good teams. Obviously, we wish we would have won this one. Personally, I am really happy with our entire staff, especially our starters. This series, we came out against a really hot team and a really hot lineup, and gave ourselves a chance." Gausman WHAT'S NEXT White Sox: Ace Chris Sale (5-0, 1.66 ERA) aims for his sixth win in six starts this season on Sunday at 12:35 p.m. CT in the series finale at Camden Yards. He matched fellow left-hander Randy Johnson as the only pitchers in the last 20 years to win each of their first five starts while working at least 38 innings. Orioles: Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez will start on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. ET to close the series against the White Sox. After walking 11 in 16 innings over his past three starts, Jimenez will try to hunker down on his command. Eaton s fine bunt puts winning rally in motion White Sox outfielder also makes stellar catch in 9th vs. Orioles By Ben Standig / MLB.com April 30th, 2016 BALTIMORE -- The White Sox belted two homers in their 8-7 win over the Orioles on Saturday night. Yet it was Adam Eaton's purposeful bunt that started the winning rally in the ninth, while his glove work in the bottom of the frame preserved that narrative. Chicago scored three runs in the eighth -- capped by Todd Frazier's go-ahead two-run homer -- only for Baltimore to tie the game in the bottom half on Chris Davis' two-run double. With two out in the top of the

3 ninth, Eaton had no interest in taking real swings against Orioles closer Zach Britton. The two batters before him went down on strikes without offering any resistance to the hard-thrower. "I don't think I could have hit it normal," Eaton said. "He's filthy. I actually told [Orioles catcher Matt] Wieters before that pitch, 'You going to wish me good luck?'" That's when Eaton created his own luck and found a way to get on base. "In my head I was going to bunt off him three times if that's what it took," he said. "I was just going to get it down, give myself a chance." Eaton got the bunt down and reached first. Attempting to field the bunt, Britton came up hobbling and left the game with a left ankle sprain. Vance Worley entered and promptly walked Carlos Sanchez before surrendering the eventual game-winning run on Jose Abreu's single. This drama came after Frazier's two-run homer in the eighth gave the White Sox a short-lived lead and took starter Mat Latos off the hook. It also came before Eaton, now working as the right fielder, made a diving catch on Wieters' line drive toward the right-center gap leading off the bottom of the ninth. "He's done that all year," manager Robin Ventura said of Eaton's defense. "Him moving over into right -- a good move for him, but a better move for us." Clearly, the White Sox made moves in April. Saturday's victory improved their record to 18-8 and matched the franchise record for most wins in April. "I don't know what it is," Abreu said through a translator about the strong start. "I guess it's because all the energy and good vibes we have right now, working hard every day and rooting for each other to win the games. It doesn't matter if we're behind late in the games because we have confidence in ourselves that we can go back and win games." That's true even if Eaton's lack of confidence swinging against Britton sparked the latest triumph. "We got the job done," Eaton said. "Good team win. Not really how we drew it up, but it shows character with the team for sure." Ventura ejected after arguing over slide rule By Ben Standig / MLB.com April 30th, 2016 BALTIMORE -- Eight days after pulling off a triple play, the White Sox were a replay challenge away from another in Saturday night's 8-7 win over the Orioles. When the call didn't go their way, manager Robin Ventura took his first ejection of the season. With runners at first and second and none out against Chicago starter Mat Latos, Adam Jones hit a ground ball toward third base. Todd Frazier fielded the ball, stepped on the bag for one out and threw to second base for another. Orioles runner Manny Machado slid late into the base as second baseman Brett Lawrie caught the ball. Jones reached first base, but replays showed Machado's hand apparently made contact with Lawrie while he was trying to pivot and throw. Ventura exercised a challenge for runner's interference, but the call ruled as stands. Ventura then argued with crew chief Gerry Davis before being ejected for the 12th time in his career and first since last Aug. 15.

4 "For me, the slide was illegal," Ventura said. "The way the rule is written... you can't grab anybody, you can't go past the bag. I thought he did both of them. Somehow in the replay, they didn't catch that." Asked whether he was ejected for continuing to argue or uttering a magic word, Ventura said, "Probably a combination of everything." Sale looking to stay perfect in series finale with O s By Ben Standig / MLB.com April 30th, 2016 The White Sox will send an unbeaten pitcher to the mound on consecutive days as left-hander Chris Sale seeks a 6-0 start when he opposes Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez on Sunday in the series finale. Sale matched fellow lefty Randy Johnson as the only pitchers in the last 20 years to win each of their first five starts while logging at least 38 innings. Things to know about this game White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia will test his tweaked right hamstring after being out of the starting lineup for Saturday's matchup. Garcia, who has three home runs, suffered the injury running to first base while making the final out in Friday's 6-3 loss. Jimenez's ERA has been steadily rising since allowing one run over seven innings for a win in his first start on April 7. Since then, he is 0-2 with a 3.91 ERA. The 32-year-old is averaging more than six strikeouts per game. Few hitters are having much success against Sale, but Mark Trumbo's history offers hope. The powerhitting outfielder is batting.455 (5-for-11) with one home run all-time against Sale. On the other side, first baseman Chris Davis is hitless in seven at-bats vs. Chicago's ace. Jose Abreu helps White Sox rally to tie record for April wins By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago April 30th, 2016 BALTIMORE -- The White Sox closed a record-tying April in the most appropriate of ways -- with another heavy dose of late-inning magic. Jose Abreu made up for a costly error with two late RBIs, including singling in the go-ahead run in the ninth, and the White Sox tied a team record for April victories with an 8-7 win over the Baltimore Orioles in front of 29,152 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Playing without manager Robin Ventura, who was ejected after a controversial review in the fourth, the White Sox scored five times in the final three innings to rally for win No. 17. They finished the season s opening month with a 17-8 mark to tie the 2000, 2005 and 2006 clubs for most April victories. I ll put a lot of money with Jose at the plate with runners in scoring position, Adam Eaton said. We got the job done. Good team win. Not really how we drew it up, but it shows character with the team for sure. Battling back, each delivering punches and for us to get the last punch in there Huge night for us. It was in particular a big showing for Abreu, who entered the game with a.220 average and 11 RBIs, his fewest in April in three seasons. The occasion became even bigger after Abreu s fielding error in the eighth -- one of two by the White Sox -- extended the inning for Matt Albers. With the White Sox leading 7-5, Abreu couldn t handle a nice throw by Todd Frazier with two outs in the eighth and Manny Machado reached. Albers -- whose scoreless streak was snapped after 33 1/3 innings

5 -- hit Adam Jones with the next pitch and Chris Davis followed with a game-tying, two-run double off Zach Duke. But a team that has scored 49 of its 95 runs (51.6 percent) from the seventh inning came through again. Eaton started the winning rally with a bunt single off Orioles closer Zach Britton, who exited the game as he injured himself retrieving the ball. Carlos Sanchez then walked against reliever Vance Worley to set up Abreu, who also singled in the tying run in an eighth-inning rally. Abreu drove an 0-1 cutter from Worley to right and Eaton slid in to home ahead of the throw from Joey Rickard. Nate Jones, who got the final out in the eighth, retired the side in order in the ninth to close it out. The White Sox also rallied back from a pair of earlier deficits, long after Orioles starter Kevin Gausman departed. Brett Lawrie, who had a solo homer in the third, walked and stole second base in the seventh and Austin Jackson singled after a 10-pitch battle with Mychal Givens to get the White Sox within 5-4. The White Sox scored three runs off Darren O Day, who hadn t allowed a run all season. Sanchez had a pinch-hit double to open the eighth inning and scored on Abreu s tying RBI single to right. Frazier blasted a 411-foot homer -- his seventh -- to center to put the White Sox up 7-5. The team s 49 runs from the seventh inning on are the most in the American League. The White Sox, who finished with 10 hits, also have six comeback wins. It seemed like everybody picked everybody up tonight, Frazier said. It s just a good character builder here. The offense came through for starter Mat Latos, who had his worst start of the season. The Orioles tried often to go the opposite way against Latos and it worked to the tune of four runs and 11 hits. Baltimore had at least two hits in four of the five innings that Latos worked, including solo homers by Pedro Alvarez and Jonathan Schoop to tie it at 3 in the fourth. Latos allowed two hits to start the third, but was spared more damage when Adam Jones grounded into a controversial 5-4 double play that resulted in the 12th ejection of Ventura s career. Machado, who had singled ahead of Jones, slid late into second base and made contact with the leg of Lawrie, who never threw to first. Ventura asked for a review as Machado appeared to be in violation of the new slide rule. After a stoppage of at least six minutes, review officials determined that Machado didn t interfere on the play and Jones was safe at first. Ventura immediately argued the call and loss of challenge with crew chief Gerry Davis, who ejected him. But Latos pitched around it. He stranded two more runners on in the fourth to keep the score tied, but Baltimore pulled ahead in the fifth as Latos walked Matt Wieters and Alvarez doubled deep to center to make it 4-3. Latos saw his ERA increase to 1.84 from I was fortunate, Latos said. The offense showed up and put up a bunch of runs on the board and the defense showed up and we were able to get away with a really good win, a hard fought win. Ventura is pleased with how his team has handled its early success. Even though the White Sox have proven to be a fiery team in the dugout, Ventura thinks his veteran core has helped them keep a level head. While he s pleased with the team s April, he doesn t think White Sox players will get ahead of themselves.

6 They're looking for Sunday, Ventura said. They're excited about the win, no doubt, the way they're playing. But very good group about focusing on what's at hand and not looking in the rear view mirror. White Sox Avisail Garcia out but maybe not for long By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago April 30th, 2016 BALTIMORE -- Early indications are that Avisail Garcia has avoided serious injury. The White Sox outfielder may not play again until Tuesday with a right hamstring strain, but as of now he isn t headed for the disabled list. Garcia is out of action for Saturday s game against the Baltimore Orioles and likely Sunday as well to rest a hamstring he tweaked on the final play of Friday s loss. The White Sox also are off Monday, which would give Garcia three days to rest before he could potentially return at home against the Boston Red Sox. Jerry Sands is starting in Garcia s place as the team s designated hitter. It s a little tight, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. I don t think it s a DL situation there, but he definitely did something going down the line there. Get Sandsy in there and stay away from Avi tonight and reassess it tomorrow. He seems confident it s not going to linger too long. This is the second time Garcia has injured his hamstring in his career. He also suffered one in 2012 while at High-A Lakeland. Garcia tested his hamstring Saturday and determined he d be out of action, though he feels better with early treatment. When I started running, I tried to put 100 percent, and then I started feeling it, Garcia said. When I jumped, that s when I feel it the most. But it s nothing serious. I feel a little bit pain, a little bit tight, but I can move my leg. I don t want it to get worse. I just want to get the treatment today and tomorrow and we have a day off on Monday. So let s see how I feel on Tuesday, hopefully ready though. The timing couldn t be worse for Garcia, who had begun to find his stroke. Garcia has displayed more confidence on this trip than he has all season and had gone 8-for-18 with a double, triple, homer and four RBIs and two walks. The spurt has helped Garcia raise his average by 79 points to.214. Ventura said he s just glad the injury doesn t seem too serious after three White Sox players hit the DL earlier in the week. You can t plan for that stuff, Ventura said. It s a good sign to see he s swinging the bat and doing that. You just take care of him, get him healthy and keep back at it. You can t ever plan, no matter what you just keep playing. For him it s more confidence that he has of what he s doing right now that he can keep. Promotion affords White Sox Tommy Kahnle refresher course By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago April 30th, 2016 BALTIMORE -- It may only be a brief stopover, but Tommy Kahnle hopes to get the most out of his current tour with the White Sox. Called up Thursday, the White Sox reliever could be sent back to Triple-A Charlotte as early as Sunday morning as closer David Robertson is expected to come off the bereavement list. But Kahnle -- acquired from the Colorado Rockies in November -- not only has had a chance to show the White Sox what he has, he also is getting a quick refresher course from pitching coach Don Cooper. Cooper has worked with Kahnle to stand more upright in his delivery in hopes it will help him throw more strikes.

7 It s just stay tall on my backside because I tend to collapse a little bit and get a little erratic, Kahnle said. But overall, make a few adjustments and should be back on track. I had a few hiccups in spring and early in the season down in Triple-A. But overall I ve been throwing well and just got to work on a few things and get better. Just get better and try to throw strikes. That s always been my downfall. Kahnle made his 91st career appearance on Friday night. He walked two in a scoreless inning in a 6-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Kahnle has always had a big arm, striking out 102 in 103 innings. But he also has walked 61 batters. Cooper likes the chance to get some in-season maintenance with any of his pitchers. Sure it is because you get a look at what s going on up here, Cooper said. We re trying to get him to stay tall that s a work in progress. It looks like he s a little better with the slide step. Kahnle would like to help out a deep bullpen again before the season is out. Robertson left the team after he pitched a scoreless inning to close out Wednesday s victory in Toronto to attend his father-in-law s funeral. Daniel Webb joined the team on Wednesday and struck out three in a scoreless inning on Thursday. But Webb went on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow flexor inflammation and Kahnle got the call. Even if it s just a few days, it s good to be back up here and show them what I ve got and if they need me again I ll be ready, Kahnle said. Saturday s recap: White Sox 8, Orioles 7 By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune April 30th, 2016 Jose Abreu s RBI single in the ninth inning lifted the White Sox to an 8-7 victory over the Orioles on Saturday night at Camden Yards. It was Abreu s second RBI single in as many innings. He had tied the game with a single to right field in the eighth to drive in Carlos Sanchez, who had doubled. Todd Frazier then hit a two-run homer to lift the Sox to a short-lived 7-5 lead. Abreu s winning hit came off Orioles reliever Vance Worley after closer Zach Britton left with an injury. He drove in Adam Eaton, who reached on a bunt single and advanced on Sanchez s walk. At the plate On the mound Sox right-hander Mat Latos gave up four earned runs on 11 hits, walked one and struck out two. Latos hadn t given up more than one run and had pitched at least six innings in each of his first four starts of the season. In relief Chris Davis two-run double off Zach Duke tied it in the bottom of the eighth. Two Orioles runners had reached base against Matt Albers on an Abreu fielding error and a hit batter. That ended Albers scoreless streak at 33 1/3 innings pitched. Upon review

8 Sox manager Robin Ventura was ejected in the third inning arguing about a no-call on the slide rule at second base. With runners on first and second in the third inning, Adam Jones grounded into a double play from Frazier to Lawrie. But as Manny Machado slid into second, he appeared to grab at Lawrie s leg, potentially preventing Lawrie from throwing to first for a triple play. In the new rule, a runner cannot change his pathway for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder. Ventura asked for a review, and the call stood that the slide was legal, but Ventura continued to stay on the field and argue before he was ejected by first-base umpire Gerry Davis. Key number 17 Victories in April by the Sox, tied for a franchise record. Up next At Orioles, 12:35 p.m. Sunday. LH Chris Sale vs. RH Ubaldo Jimenez. Jose Abreu redeems himself with game-winning hit for White Sox By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune April 30th, 2016 When Jose Abreu stepped to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning Saturday night at Camden Yards, he had more than just the weight of a tie game resting on his bat. He also knew his error in the eighth inning had contributed to the White Sox losing the lead, and this was his chance to redeem himself. And so he did. Abreu knocked an 0-1 pitch from Orioles reliever Vance Worley into right field to score Adam Eaton from second base to help the Sox to an 8-7 victory. The triumph tied the club April record of 17 victories from 2000, 2005 and "I don't know what it is, but I guess it's because of all the energy and good vibes we have right now, working hard every day and rooting for each other to win the games," Abreu said through a team interpreter. "It doesn't matter if we're behind late in the games because we have confidence in ourselves that we can go back and win." Abreu also had the tying RBI single in the eighth, and Todd Frazier followed with a two-run homer in front of cheering family members in town in from New Jersey to give the Sox a 7-5 lead. But with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Abreu couldn't glove a throw at first base from Frazier, resulting in an error and an Orioles baserunner. Sox reliever Matt Albers then hit Adam Jones with a pitch and Chris Davis followed with a two-run double off Sox left-hander Zach Duke to tie it. That ended Albers' scoreless streak at 33 1/3 innings. Abreu has scuffled at times to start the season with a.229 batting average through Saturday, but he came through in the ninth. Eaton made the decision on his own to bunt against closer Zach Britton, who Eaton said had "filthy" stuff. Britton was injured on the play and left the game and Worley walked Carlos Sanchez before Abreu's hit.

9 "That means a lot because in the inning before I wasn't able to complete the out with that great play that Frazier made," Abreu said. "But I want to thank God to give me that opportunity because that was huge and I could respond. I could hit the ball very well, and I could help the team to win this game." The Sox came through in a game that ended early for both right-hander Mat Latos and manager Robin Ventura. Latos gave up four earned runs on 11 hits with a walk and two strikeouts over five innings. Latos hadn't given up more than one run and had pitched at least six innings in each of his first four starts to start the year 4-0. But he gave up a first-inning run on Mark Trumbo's RBI single, and Pedro Alvarez and Jonathan Schoop added homers in the fourth inning. Alvarez's RBI double to the center-field wall put the Orioles ahead 4-3 in the fifth. "They just had a good game plan, and I wasn't able to figure it out until it was too late," Latos said. "I was fortunate. The offense showed up and put up a bunch of runs on the board, and the defense showed up and we were able to get away with a really good win, a hard-fought win." Ventura was ejected in the third inning after arguing a call involving the new slide rule at second base. In closer David Robertson's absence, Nate Jones pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the victory. White Sox pitching coach on Chris Sale s start: This approach wonderful By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune April 30th, 2016 Don Cooper always has had rave reviews for ace left-hander Chris Sale, but the White Sox pitching coach is feeling "real good" about Sale's first month of the season. Sale enters his start Sunday against the Orioles with a 5-0 record and a 1.66 ERA, the best April numbers of his career. Helping that start has been a new approach that puts less focus on strikeouts and more on trying for early ground balls from hitters. Cooper and Sale had a conversation about it in late November, with the idea that it would help Sale be more efficient and pitcher deeper in games. Sale has pitched at least seven innings in every start, with one eight-inning outing and one complete game. And he still has 32 strikeouts. "Last year, he was throwing well, getting an awful lot of strikeouts, but sometimes that would add up to six innings, and another job of a starter is to take the bulk of a game," Cooper said. "This approach is wonderful because he's adding and subtracting (velocity). He's getting them to hit the first or second pitch, and if not, he's ahead in the count. Cooper said he thought Sale put a fair amount of stress on himself last season to help a flailing team and to set the single-season club record of 274 strikeouts. But Cooper thinks an improved team is helping ease that stress. "He's not maxing out on every pitch, every inning," Cooper said. "Last year, our defense wasn't that good, and he felt he had to strike more guys out. "Now instead of him pitching six and striking out 12, he's pitching eight and striking out eight, and I really like it." Recovering: Designated hitter Avisail Garcia missed Saturday's game and is expected to sit out Sunday with a strained mid-right hamstring, which he injured running to first base on the final play Friday. He hopes to return Tuesday after the Sox's day off.

10 "It's nothing serious," Garcia said. "I feel a little bit pain, a little bit tight, but I can move my leg. I don't want it to get worse." Garcia was 8-for-18 with a double, a triple, a home run and four RBIs on the Sox trip. White Sox rally twice to defeat O s, tie record for wins in April By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times April 30th, 2016 BALTIMORE Manager Robin Ventura tried to downplay the White Sox remarkable April, which ended with an extraordinary 8-7 victory Saturday over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. The win gave the Sox 17 victories against eight losses in the opening month, tying a franchise record held by the 2005 World Series champion team and the 2006 unit the following year. You don t get caught up in that too much, Ventura said. This group is old enough that they just play day by day and eventually you get to where you can look back. don t get caught up too much in trying to pat yourself on the back. They re looking for Sunday. Chris Sale opens the month of May in the series finale Sunday afternoon as the Sox, who lost the first two games of a four-game set here, go for a split before returning home. Looking at Saturday night would make your head spin, as the Sox played a sloppy defensive game for the second straight night but scored five times from the seventh inning on to steal a victory. The most costly error, by first baseman Jose Abreu, was made up for when Abreu punched the go-ahead single to right field in the ninth inning. After the Orioles two-run eighth tied the game with unearned runs on his plate, Abreu scored Adam Eaton from second in the ninth with his second straight hit. Eaton had reached on bunt single after Orioles lefty closer Zach Britton struck out the first two hitters of the inning. In my head I was going to bunt off him three times if that s what it took Eaton said. I said to [catcher] Matt Wieters, are you going to wish me luck? This guy is filthy. The Sox got some luck when Britton injured an ankle fielding Eaton s bunt and had to leave the game. He was replaced by Vance Worley. I don t know what it is, but I guess it s because of all the energy and good vibes we have right now, Abreu said through a translator. Working hard every day and rooting for each other to win the games. It doesn t matter if we re behind late in the games because we have confidence in ourselves that we can go back and win games. Abreu was down on himself for his error after third baseman Todd Frazier made a nice play on what should have been the third out of the eighth. I thank God for the opportunity to make amends, he said. Nate Jones got the final four outs for the Sox, who were without closer David Robertson who was on bereavement leave due to the death of his father-in-law. Abreu also singled in the tying run in the eighth, knocking in pinch hitter Carlos Sanchez (leadoff double) and Todd Frazier followed with a two-run homer to center against Orioles right-hander Darren O Day to help the Sox come from behind and take a 7-5 lead. I finally got the fastball and drove it out of the park, Frazier said. It was a great day for the team. I have to give all the credit to the guys who found a way to get on base, either get a walk or double. Sanchez came in and did his job. It s just a good character builder here, a good win for us.

11 The Sox trailed 5-3 in the sixth inning on Adam Jones RBI double. They got to within one when Brett Lawrie walked, stole second and scored on a close play at home on Austin Jackson s two-out, two-strike single to right, Jackson s first hit of the series. Ventura was ejected in the third inning by umpire crew chief Gerry Davis after he challenged the Orioles Machado had violated the slide rule at second base. A favorable ruling would have given the Sox their second triple play of the season. It was an illegal slide, Ventura said. Brett Lawrie hit his second homer in two nights, against O s right-hander Kevin Gausman in the fourth inning. Sox right-hander Mat Latos allowed four runs on 11 hits including two homers over five innings, his shortest outing of the season. His ERA climbed to NOTES: Matt Albers 30-game scoreless streak came to an end after he allowed two earned runs. *Frazier is batting.318 with a double, five homers, 11 RBI over his last 12 games. *Of Brett Lawrie s nine hits in his last 10 games, six have been for extra bases. *Adam Eaton recorded his sixth outfield assist after a putout in the first inning. He leads the majors in outfield assists. *The Sox scored five runs from the seventh inning on. Their 49 runs scored from the seventh on leads the majors. Ventura ejected after arguing over slide rule By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times April 30th, 2016 BALTIMORE Manager Robin Ventura was ejected from the White Sox game against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards Saturday night. Ventura was thrown out by umpire crew chief Gerry Davis after he challenged the Orioles Manny Machado violated the slide rule at second base. A favorable ruling would have given the Sox their second triple play of the season. With Machado on first and Hyun Soo Kim on second in the third inning, third baseman Todd Frazier fielded Adam Jones ground ball and threw to Brett Lawrie for a force out at second. Lawrie s relay to first was not in time but Ventura appeared to challenge that Machado who reached for Lawrie s lower leg while sliding past the bag made contact with Lawrie. If Machado was determined to have violated the slide rule, Jones would also be out at first. After a three minute, 29 second delay for the review that went in the Orioles favor, Ventura argued with Davis and was thrown out for the 12th time in his career. Ventura s last ejection was on Aug. 15 in a game against the Cubs. Bench coach Rick Renteria assumed Ventura s duties. The Sox and Orioles were tied at 3 after four innings. Lawrie hit his second homer in two nights, against O s right-hander Kevin Gausman in the fourth inning. Sox right-hander Mat Latos, who entered with a 0.74 ERA over his first four starts, gave up solo homers to Jonathan Schoop and Pedro Alvarez in the bottom of the fourth.

12 Chris Sale on PEDs in MLB: We need to be better role models By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times April 30th, 2016 BALTIMORE It bothers Chris Sale that performance-enhancing drugs are still an issue in major league baseball. The White Sox ace left-hander loves the game too much to see its integrity compromised, where users have an unfair advantage over those who don t. I just hope that we can eventually get to where we want to be, Sale told the Sun-Times Saturday. Where everyone s integrity and character is not questioned. After Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon was suspended 80 games for testing positive to two PEDs, shortly after Blue Jays first baseman Chris Colabello was given an 80-game PED suspension, A s closer and player representative Sean Doolittle called for stiffer penalties. Guys are [angry], Doolittle said. They want players to be more accountable for their actions. They want a more level playing field. Sale said he prefers to keep his views on stiffer penalties to himself. But for the sake of the game, and where we want to go with it, we need to clean it up, he said. We need to be better role models, have better character, be better people, rise above any temptation we might have. Sale, a perennial Cy Young candidate who is off to one of his better starts with a 5-0 record and 1.66 ERA, is scheduled to start the Sox series finale in Baltimore on Sunday afternoon. I think everyone is on the same page. We all want to be on the same playing field. I don t think it s too much to ask. Major League Baseball is doing an unbelievable job trying to make that happen, he said. Players have to be smarter and have more respect for the game. We re role models. What we do sets the tone for the next generation. The generation before us set the tone for us. Hopefully we can be that generation to take the next step to make it better for the 13- and 14-year-old kids out there busting their tails to be where we re at. Hamstring sidelines White Sox Avisail Garcia By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times April 30th, 2016 BALTIMORE Avisail Garcia will miss the last two games of the White Sox series against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards with a right mid-hamstring strain suffered when he made the final out of the Sox 6-3 loss here Friday night. It s nothing bad, nothing serious, Garcia said after receiving treatment in the trainer s room Saturday. A couple of days. Get treatment and see how I feel Tuesday. It s a little tight, manager Robin Ventura said. I don t think it s a DL situation there but he definitely did something going down the line there Garcia will be re-evaluated Sunday. He seems confident it s not going to linger too long, Ventura said. The Sox have their first off day Monday after what would follow games on 19 consecutive days. They open a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field.

13 Garcia, who has become the Sox full-time designated hitter, got off to a poor start to the season but was having a good week, going 8-for-18 with three extra-base hits and four RBI in the first five games of a road trip that began in Toronto, so the timing of his injury is unfortunate. He tried to avoid a tag from Orioles pitcher Zach Britton on the base line as he was approaching first and landed somewhat awkwardly on the base. I tried to go 100 percent, and then I started feeling it, so when I jumped, that s when I feel it the most, Garcia said. But it s nothing serious. I feel a little bit pain, a little bit tight, but I can move my leg. I don t want it to get worse. I just want to get the treatment today and tomorrow and we have a day off on Monday, set let s see how I feel on Tuesday, hopefully ready. Jerry Sands will be the Sox DH against Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman Saturday. Garcia said the last time he had a hamstring issue was in That one was higher up on his leg, and he said he missed seven days. White Sox icon A.J. Pierzynski enjoying milestone moment By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald April 30th, 2016 If you hear boos coming out of Wrigley Field Sunday, A.J. Pierzynski is likely in the lineup. Still chugging along at age 39 as a catcher for the Atlanta Braves who are in town to play the Chicago Cubs Pierzynski remains one of the game s most loathed players. It's a reputation that's been following Pierzynski since 1998, when he broke into the major leagues as a cocky, competitive catcher for the Minnesota Twins. But Anthony John Pierzynski remains a Chicago White Sox icon, and he was a beloved member of the 2005 World Series champion team. "I still love it here," Pierzynski said. "I still have a lot of friends here and I still keep in touch with a lot of people here. I enjoy coming back here, it's still fun. "Every time you're driving through the streets, you have memories of all the places you went here, where you lived and where you went to eat lunch and everything. It will always be kind of my second home." Looking to go in another direction at catcher, the White Sox let Pierzynski exit as a free agent following the 2012 season. It was a decision that still rubs many Sox fans raw, but Pierzynski has carried on while playing for the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals and Braves. "I tell people I'm day-to-day, year-to year, whatever it is," Pierzynski said. "I still enjoy playing baseball, I still love competing, I still love being out there. There are things, obviously, having two kids, a 10- and nine-year-old, you miss a lot. "I miss my son's games, miss my daughter's volleyball tournaments and stuff, that's the hard part. But the game is still fun and I'm still physically fine. I have no physical problems, which is lucky. I still like playing, so we'll see." While he's understandably slowed down a bit with age, Pierzynski became just the 10th catcher in majorleague history to reach 2,000 career hits last Wednesday when he singled off Red Sox knuckleballer Steven Wright at Fenway Park.

14 "It's a really cool moment in your career to get to a milestone like that," Pierzynski said. "Then you get guys like (former White Sox teammate Paul) Konerko texting you and saying, 'It took you long enough.' Stuff like that. But no, it's one of those cool moments and cool things, something to definitely to be proud of, so when you're done you look back and say, 'One of the highlights.'" Piling up 2,000 hits is not going to get you into the Hall of Fame, but it is a remarkable achievement for a catcher, considering all of the pounding and wear and tear that comes with the position. Cubs catcher David Ross, who is also 39 years old, can appreciate Pierzynski's accomplishment more than most. "With all the miles he has on his body and still being a productive catcher, that is really impressive to me," said Ross, who has 491 career hits. "I'm still catching and we're around the same age, but the miles he's put on his body are way more than me, and I know how I feel day to day. "He's one of the tougher at-bats in the league. The guy does a good job of putting the bat on the ball. I'm super impressed." Deep down, Pierzynski has got to feel the same way. But he's not quite sure being a catcher makes reaching the 2,000-hit plateau any more special. "I don't care what position you play, to get that many hits is hard," Pierzynski said. "Add in the catching position and it obviously adds a little bit to it. But I don't know, I never really looked at it as anything different than any other position. "Obviously, catching is different because of the amount games you miss and you don't get to play, just because of the way the game is scheduled and set up today. It's tough for anybody to get there, but as a catcher obviously the numbers speak for themselves and the number of guys that have been there, so it's a special thing." When he was younger, Pierzynski regularly played games a season. But the game has changed, and Pierzynski is now in an almost straight platoon situation with Tyler Flowers, another former White Sox catcher. "I think what he's accomplished is tough, especially in today's game where they're trying to take care of the catchers and not beat them up too much," Ross said. "It's actually a credit to him for playing so many games. You obviously have to be a good hitter, but you also have to be in a lot of games, be in a lot of the day games after night games, and what that does to your body is super, super tough." With the Braves off to the worst start in baseball at 5-18, Pierzynski appears to be a bad fit on a team that is just beginning a massive rebuild. With his skill and experience, would Pierzynski make more sense on a team that has playoff aspirations? "I don't really have any control over that," Pierzynski said. "Obviously, I'd like to turn the Braves around and get them back to where the Braves belong. We'll see what happens. If there's a team out there that wants me and the Braves think it's a fair move, I'm sure they won't hesitate to pull the trigger." What about the White Sox or Cubs, who both are banged up at catcher? "I don't think either one of those teams will be calling for me any time soon," Pierzynski said with a laugh. "Trust me."

15 McKnight: White Sox can stay hot once Abreu, Frazier warm up By Connor McKnight / Daily Herald April 30th, 2016 I think you can make the argument that there is nothing more frustrating in the game of baseball than wasting good pitching. Just ask Mariners fans about watching Felix Hernandez' brilliance these past 10 years or so. Hernandez has never pitched in a post season game. That's the macro level, though. That's zooming out 10,000 feet; feeling a long, dull lingering pain that can be medicated with the overall brilliance of a singular player. Worse, perhaps, is wasting the stellar pitching of an entire staff -- rotation and bullpen -- over the course of one season. That pain is more acute because it seems more immediately fixable, even if -- especially if -- we're unable to fix it ourselves. The 2016 White Sox are symptom free when it comes to this particular problem. Stellar might not be a gaudy enough adjective to describe the effort the pitching staff has given this ballclub to start the season. It didn't sneak up on us, this caliber of pitching. It has been there since, at least, the fade of Certainly the bullpen has gone through a complete reconstruction over the past four years but that glimmer -- Chris Sale starts, Jose Quintana no decisions, Nate Jones heat, the near-miracle that was Hector Noesi's has been there. April has shown us two things about the White Sox. They will make plays. They can score late. Making plays -- the defense -- is the more sustainable. I knew Todd Frazier had a good reputation as a third baseman. I had no idea he was this good. I figured Adam Eaton had a good shot at being a solid right fielder. I had no idea his athleticism and arm would play up to make him one of the best defensive right fielders in baseball through the first month. Eaton, on our "White Sox Weekly" show last Saturday, said Austin Jackson has helped facilitate his transition to the corner. Having a center fielder with the steadiness and experience of Jackson gives Eaton a measure of trust in right. Eaton, having been there and done that in center, knows the job and what it can do for the other two roaming the outfield. Having solidified the defense, our attention turns to the offense. Run support is an indivisible part of the whole "not wasting great pitching" thing. Ask Jose Quintana. The best part about the offensive struggles this season might be the most head scratching. Jose Abreu and Todd Frazier aren't quite clicking yet. Sure, Frazier has hit for some power (6 home runs and 3 doubles) but his.457 SLG (through Friday) is 36 points off his March/April career mark of.493. (I feel compelled to mention here the near-home run that Nomar Mazara robbed in ninth of the final game against the Rangers.) The reason the struggles of those two sluggers in the middle of the White Sox lineup are "the best part" is that Frazier and Abreu can be counted on to get back to their career norms. A player doesn't have two seasons of success to the level Abreu enjoyed in his first two seasons and then collapse. Frazier has shown that his power, while it comes with a bit of a swing-happy approach, exists in all situations. He's hit 4 of his 6 home runs in two-strike counts (two in 0-2, two in 1-2). With the White Sox enjoying such a great April start, they've allowed their big bats the time to figure things out without the crushing pressure of depending wholly on them for runs. That's a blessing in disguise if there's ever been one. With a heavy dose of divisional play coming up in May (seven against the Royals, three against the Indians) it would be a great time for both to find their form.

16 Abreu leads White Sox past Orioles 8-7 By Todd Karpovich / Associated Press April 30th, 2016 BALTIMORE -- The confidence of the Chicago White Sox never wavered after dropping the opening two games in a series against the Baltimore Orioles. With a talented pitching staff and deep lineup, the White Sox are confident they can overcome any type of adversity. And with one swing of the bat, Jose Abreu delivered another dose of good fortune. Abreu hit a tie-breaking RBI single in the ninth inning off reliever Vance Worley, leading Chicago to an 8-7 victory over the Orioles on Saturday night. "I don't know what it is, but I guess it's because of all the energy and the good vibe we have right now," Abreu said. "We are pushing each other to try to win every day. Doesn't matter if we are behind late in the game, we have confidence in ourselves that we can come back and win." After Todd Frazier hit a two-run homer off Darren O'Day in the eighth to give Chicago a 7-5 lead, Chris Davis tied the game in the bottom half with a two-run double off Zach Duke. Those runs were charged to Matt Albers, ending his streak of 30 consecutive scoreless appearances. Adam Eaton and Carlos Sanchez reached base with two outs in the ninth against Zach Britton (1-1). Worley entered and allowed the single to Abreu. Nate Jones (2-0) got the final four outs for the win. Pedro Alvarez had three hits, including a homer, off Chicago's Mat Latos, who entered the game with a 5-0 record. Latos allowed four runs and a career-high 11 hits over just five innings. Hyun Soo Kim had three hits and is 9 for 15 (.600) on the season for Baltimore. White Sox manager Robin Ventura was ejected in the third when his challenge for interference was overruled by a replay. He argued a slide by Manny Machado prevented second baseman Brett Lawrie from making a throw to first for a potential triple play. "Well, I mean, for me, the slide was illegal," Ventura said. "The way the rule's written, you've got to be able to go in there and you can't grab anybody, can't go past the bag, and he did both of them and somehow in a replay, they didn't catch that." A two-out single by Mark Trumbo gave the Orioles a lead in the first. The White Sox scored twice in the third helped by third baseman Machado's throwing error and a dropped pop-up by second baseman Jonathan Schoop. After Lawrie gave the White Sox a 3-1 lead with a homer off Kevin Gausman in the fourth, Alvarez and Schoop tied the game with solo shots in the bottom of the inning. "It was definitely back-and-forth really the entire game," Gausman said. "It's two really good teams. Obviously, we wish we would have won this one." Alvarez, who entered the game 8 for 44, delivered a two-out RBI double in the fifth that gave the Orioles a 4-3 lead. Adam Jones added another run with a double off Zach Putnam an inning later. Chicago pulled within 5-4 on an RBI single by Austin Jackson in the seventh and tied the game in the eighth on a flare to right by Abreu before Frazier's two-run shot. "We're going to have challenges during the year," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "We did a lot of good things tonight. But no, I'm not one of those guys. Something happens, we'll deal with it and our club knows that. We had a lot of good things happen tonight."