White Sox And Yankees Start Series In New York
CHICAGO (AP)-- The Chicago White Sox have struggled recently, losing 11 of their last 13 games. On Monday, they start a series with New York Yankees who have won three straight and seven of nine.
The Yankees closed a rain-shortened, two-game series at Baltimore over the weekend with a 6-3, 11-inning victory Sunday. Russell Martin drove in Robinson Cano with the go-ahead run after Mariano Rivera gave up the lead in the ninth - his second blown save in nine tries.
"We found a way to get it done," manager Joe Girardi said. "That's the bottom line."
Cano doubled to lead off the 11th, extending his hitting streak to 13 games. He's batting .345 during that run.
New York also received another big game from Curtis Granderson, who hit a two-run homer - his seventh of the season and fifth in seven games - while driving in three runs. Granderson, who is hitting .424 during an eight-game hitting streak, will try to extend it versus the White Sox, although he's hitting only .218 against them during his career - his lowest average against any AL opponent.
However, teammate Derek Jeter, who had four hits Sunday, is batting .519 in his last seven home games against Chicago.
The Yankees have won 13 of these teams' last 16 meetings in the Bronx.
A visit to Yankee Stadium could make an already horrendous road trip even worse for Chicago (8-14). The White Sox have dropped 10 of 11 overall and six of seven on their 11-game swing.
Chicago got outscored 21-3 in a weekend sweep at Detroit, suffering shutouts in the last two games. The White Sox lost 3-0 Sunday, extending their scoreless streak to 20 innings.
Chicago is batting .193 over the last 11 games. Adam Dunn went 0 for 3 with one strikeout Sunday, dropping his average to a season-low .145. The veteran slugger has two hits and 15 strikeouts in his last 30 at-bats.
"Nothing works," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I'll keep plugging guys in and hope things come around, but now every day is like rewinding a movie and watching it again."
While their offense is slumping, White Sox hitters have had success in the past against A.J. Burnett (3-0, 4.37 ERA).
Burnett has lost his last two starts against Chicago, giving up 16 runs and 18 hits in eight innings.
However, Dunn is 3 for 14 with five strikeouts against Burnett.
The right-hander failed to pick up his fourth straight victory Tuesday, when another blown save by Rivera led to a 6-5, 10-inning loss to Toronto. Burnett allowed three runs in 5 1-3 innings, striking out six but walking five.
Phil Humber (1-2, 4.42) will start for the White Sox, seeking to avoid losing a third straight start.
The right-hander allowed a season-high four runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
In the rotation in place of the injured Jake Peavy, Humber has received just four total runs of support in three starts.
Will the slumping White Sox turn it around against the Yankees? Leave your predictions in the comments section.
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