GDT: 9/2/11 - DET (75-62) VS CWS (68-66) - 7:05 p.m. ET

White Sox hoping to make up ground on Tigers

By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com | 9/1/2011 7:00 PM ET

In some ways, the White Sox couldn't have picked anyone better than John Danks to start Friday's opener against the Tigers. Much like his team, Danks has righted himself after early struggles this year, and he knows he can earn a small measure of validation by pitching well against first-place Detroit on Friday.

Danks went 0-8 in his first 11 starts this season, but much like his team, he's slowly worked back to the fringe of a successful season. The left-hander has won five of his last six decisions, and his journey back to .500 will go through All-Star Justin Verlander at Comerica Park.

His personal journey will coincide with his team's, which will be trying to make a dent in Detroit's lead in the American League Central. Danks has already experienced a moral victory by not letting his struggles overwhelm him, a lesson he spoke frankly about on Wednesday.

"I know I can pretty much take anything in this game. ... That was the worst stretch in my baseball career, even looking back on Little League," he said. "I think I can pretty much take anything that kind of gets thrown at me. It's definitely something that builds strength, I guess, is the way to put it. Confidence, strength. I know I can take a shot to the face for two months and bounce back."

Chicago, surely, has grasped that very lesson on its own terms. The White Sox were 11-22 and stood 11 games out of first place back on May 6, but they've resolutely worked their way back into the race. Chicago comes to Detroit 5 1/2 games back of the Tigers, tied with Cleveland in second place.

The Tigers are 7-5 against Chicago this season, but they've lost the season series to the White Sox in four of the last six years. These two teams will meet for another series in Chicago later in September, and the Tigers will play 17 of their final 25 games against division foes.

Verlander lost his first start after the All-Star break, but he's gone 8-0 with a 2.61 ERA in his last eight outings. The right-hander leads the AL in victories (20), winning percentage (.800), starts (29), innings (215.2) and strikeouts (218), and he's 9-3 with a 2.18 ERA in 14 starts at home.

White Sox: Konerko nears milestone
Paul Konerko doubled and drove in three runs Wednesday, a productive afternoon that didn't bring him closer to a personal milestone. Konerko, who earned his 2,000th hit in May, is seven home runs away from becoming the sixth active player to reach 2,000 hits and 400 home runs.

Konerko is seeking to join fellow sluggers Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero and Jim Thome in that exclusive club. Konerko is batting .314 (43-for-137) with eight doubles, six home runs and 25 RBIs in 39 games since the All-Star break.

Tigers: Guillen returns
Veteran Carlos Guillen wasn't a September callup, but he did return to the club on Thursday. The Tigers hope it's finally for good. Because of numerous injures, Guillen has played on only 22 games with Detroit this season -- just three more than he has with Triple-A Toledo. Guillen will join Ryan Raburn and Ramon Santiago as players capable of filling in at second base.

"I'm ready for anything," Guillen said Thursday morning. "I'm ready when they need me."

Guillen and Magglio Ordonez, who had a big offensive day in Thursday's loss to the Royals, are expected to start in Friday's series opener.

• Jose Valverde's fantastic ride continued on Wednesday, when Detroit's closer locked down his 40th save in 40 opportunities this season. The veteran right-hander -- who has the longest streak in franchise history -- is also just the second Detroit closer to reach the 40-save mark.

Worth noting
• The White Sox have won four of the last six games in this series.

• Former closer Todd Jones -- who saved 42 games in 2000 -- was the only other Tigers reliever to reach the 40-save mark.

• The White Sox are the only AL club with a winning record on the road (37-30) and a losing mark at home (31-36).

• Detroit manager Jim Leyland is one win shy of No. 500 with the Tigers.

Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (20-5, 2.38 ERA)

Picking up his 20th win of the season his last time out, Verlander was the first pitcher to reach that mark in August since Curt Schilling in 2002 with the D-backs. Verlander will get an extra day of rest before his 30th start of the year.


White Sox: LHP John Danks (6-9, 3.63 ERA)

Danks threw a season-high 120 pitches to finish off his fourth career complete game and his second career shutout in a 3-0 victory over Seattle. The southpaw matched a career high with 10 strikeouts, while walking one and giving up just three hits.


Game Information




INJURY UPDATE:

• RHP Al Alburquerque (concussion, 15-day disabled list on August 12).
• RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 30).
• LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation, 60-day DL on May 11)



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• Saturday, September 3:
Tigers (RHP Brad Penny (9-10, 5.07 ERA)) VS
White Sox (RHP Gavin Floyd (12-10, 4.36 ERA)),
4:10 p.m. ET (FOX / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Sunday, September 4:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (13-8, 4.52 ERA)) VS
White Sox (LHP Mark Buehrle (11-6, 3.05 ERA)),
8:05 p.m. ET (ESPN2 / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Friday: Tigers vs. White Sox
BECK'S BLOG
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 3:23 pm

Magglio Ordonez, 15-for-29 lifetime off John Danks, gets the start in right field. Carlos Guillen, 7-for-16 off Danks, does not start at second base. That goes to Ramon Santiago, who surprisingly has not faced Danks in his career.

TIGERS

1. Austin Jackson, CF
   
2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
   
3. Delmon Young, LF
   
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
   
5. Victor Martinez, DH
   
6. Alex Avila, C
   
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
   
8. Ramon Santiago, 2B
   
9. Brandon Inge, 3B
   

P: Justin Verlander

WHITE SOX

1. Juan Pierre, LF
   
2. Alexei Ramirez, SS
   
3. Paul Konerko, 1B
   
4. A.J. Pierzynski, DH
   
5. Dayan Viciedo, RF
   
6. Alejandro De Aza, CF
   
7. Tyler Flowers, C
   
8. Brent Morel, 3B
   
9. Gordon Beckham, 3B
   

P: John Danks

CWS - Top 1st
B:0 S:2 O:1
Juan Pierre grounds out softly, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Alexei Ramirez flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Paul Konerko flies out to left fielder Delmon Young.

DET - Bot 1st
B:1 S:2 O:0
Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to left fielder Juan Pierre.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Magglio Ordonez grounds out softly, second baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Paul Konerko. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Delmon Young triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Alejandro De Aza. Austin Jackson scores.
1 - 0

B:1 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Alejandro De Aza. Delmon Young scores.
2 - 0

With Victor Martinez batting, Miguel Cabrera steals (2) 2nd base.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Victor Martinez grounds out, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Alex Avila singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder Juan Pierre. Miguel Cabrera scores.
3 - 0

B:0 S:0 O:3
Jhonny Peralta flies out to center fielder Alejandro De Aza.

3 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

CWS - Top 2nd
B:3 S:2 O:0
A. J. Pierzynski singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Dayan Viciedo flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Alejandro De Aza out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Tyler Flowers grounds into a force out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Ramon Santiago. A. Pierzynski out at 2nd.

DET - Bot 2nd
B:0 S:1 O:1
Ramon Santiago flies out to center fielder Alejandro De Aza.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Brandon Inge singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Alejandro De Aza.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to center fielder Alejandro De Aza. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Magglio Ordonez grounds into double play, shortstop Alexei Ramirez to second baseman Gordon Beckham to first baseman Paul Konerko. Austin Jackson out at 2nd.

3 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

CWS - Top 3rd
B:4 S:1 O:0
Brent Morel walks.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Gordon Beckham grounds into double play, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Brent Morel out at 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Juan Pierre flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

DET - Bot 3rd
B:2 S:3 O:1
Delmon Young out swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Miguel Cabrera pops out to first baseman Paul Konerko in foul territory.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Victor Martinez out swinging.

3 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

CWS - Top 4th
B:2 S:2 O:0
Alexei Ramirez singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Paul Konerko out swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2
A. J. Pierzynski grounds out softly, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Alexei Ramirez to 2nd.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Dayan Viciedo out swinging.

DET - Bot 4th
B:2 S:1 O:1
Alex Avila flies out to center fielder Alejandro De Aza.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Jhonny Peralta out swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Ramon Santiago pops out to third baseman Brent Morel in foul territory.

3 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

CWS - Top 5th
B:1 S:2 O:1
Alejandro De Aza lines out to second baseman Ramon Santiago.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Tyler Flowers flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Brent Morel grounds out softly, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 5th
B:1 S:0 O:0
Brandon Inge singles on a line drive to left fielder Juan Pierre.

B:2 S:2 O:0
Austin Jackson homers (9) on a fly ball to left center field. Brandon Inge scores.
5 - 0

B:0 S:2 O:0
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Alejandro De Aza.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Don Kelly replaces Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Delmon Young called out on .

B:4 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera walks. Don Kelly to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Victor Martinez flies out to right fielder Dayan Viciedo. Don Kelly to 3rd.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Alex Avila walks. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Josh Kinney replaces John Danks.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Jhonny Peralta doubles (23) on a line drive to left fielder Juan Pierre. Don Kelly scores. Miguel Cabrera scores. Alex Avila scores.
8 - 0

B:0 S:0 O:3
Ramon Santiago flies out to center fielder Alejandro De Aza.

8 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

CWS - Top 6th
Don Kelly remains in the game as the right fielder.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Gordon Beckham grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Juan Pierre grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Alexei Ramirez called out on .

DET - Bot 6th
B:0 S:1 O:1
Brandon Inge grounds out, third baseman Brent Morel to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Austin Jackson grounds out sharply, third baseman Brent Morel to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Don Kelly singles on a ground ball to shortstop Alexei Ramirez.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Delmon Young out swinging.

8 - 0 AFTER 6 INNINGS

CWS - Top 7th
B:0 S:0 O:0
Paul Konerko doubles (23) on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:1 S:3 O:1
A. J. Pierzynski out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Dayan Viciedo flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Alejandro De Aza grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 7th
Defensive Substitution: Eduardo Escobar replaces shortstop Alexei Ramirez, batting 2nd, playing shortstop.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Eduardo Escobar to first baseman Paul Konerko.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Victor Martinez pops out to third baseman Brent Morel in foul territory.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Alex Avila grounds out to first baseman Paul Konerko.

8 - 0 AFTER 7 INNINGS

CWS - Top 8th
B:0 S:0 O:0
Tyler Flowers homers (3) on a fly ball to left center field.
8 - 1

B:1 S:1 O:0
Brent Morel doubles (15) on a fly ball to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Gordon Beckham out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Juan Pierre singles on a ground ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Brent Morel to 3rd.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Eduardo Escobar singles on a soft ground ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Juan Pierre to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Joaquin Benoit replaces Justin Verlander.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Paul Konerko flies out to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:1 S:2 O:3
A. J. Pierzynski lines out sharply to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 8th
Pitcher Change: Shane Lindsay replaces Josh Kinney.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Jhonny Peralta pops out to first baseman Paul Konerko in foul territory.

B:4 S:1 O:1
Ramon Santiago walks.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Alejandro De Aza.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Austin Jackson called out on .

8 - 1 AFTER 8 INNINGS

CWS - Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Daniel Schlereth replaces Joaquin Benoit.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Dayan Viciedo grounds out softly, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Brent Lillibridge replaces Alejandro De Aza.

B:4 S:0 O:1
Brent Lillibridge walks.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Tyler Flowers flies out to right fielder Don Kelly in foul territory.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Brent Morel grounds out softly, catcher Alex Avila to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.