The Chicago White Sox could certainly use Paul Konerko healthy and hitting well to complement Carlos Quentin and help out their struggling lineup. A matchup with Paul Byrd could help Konerko's confidence.
The first-place White Sox may have Konerko in the lineup for the first time in four days when they open a three-game road set with Byrd and the struggling Cleveland Indians on Monday night.Quentin hit a walk-off home run in the ninth inning Sunday night, his second home run of the against the Los Angeles Angels as Chicago (27-22) won 3-2 to avoid a three-game sweep. The White Sox, who had scored just one run while losing the first two games against the Angels, went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position in the series.
Konerko, who is batting .212, missed the Angels series because of a right hand injury, but Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen expects him back in the lineup Monday or Tuesday.
Asked if the White Sox miss him, Guillen joked, "Not really, the way he's hitting."
But Konerko could get a boost against Byrd (2-4, 4.10 ERA). The first baseman is hitting .343 (12-for-35) with a home run and two doubles against the Cleveland (23-27) right-hander.
Konerko, though, went hitless in two at-bats versus Byrd on Wednesday night as the White Sox beat the Indians 7-2. The right-hander, who gave up five runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings, is 8-3 with a 4.45 ERA in 14 career starts against Chicago.
Quentin's multi-homer game was his second of the season, and brought his overall home run total to an AL-leading 14.
Javier Vazquez (5-3, 3.43 ERA), who will get the ball Monday for Chicago, is 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA in his last two starts.
The veteran right-hander matched up with Byrd on Wednesday, giving up two runs and four hits while striking out seven in seven innings to earn the win. He helped the White Sox beat the Indians for the fourth straight time after losing the teams' first two contests this season.
Vazquez lost to the Indians in his April 2 season debut, laboring through five innings and allowing four runs and five hits while walking four in a 7-2 White Sox defeat.
He is 6-4 with a 3.94 ERA in 13 starts against Cleveland.
Vazquez will face an Indians team that has lost eight of its last nine, scoring two or fewer runs five times in that span.
"I'm tired of talking about it," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "We have to get tough, have the courage to stick with the game plan and get better. There's nothing more I can say."
Ben Francisco misplayed a single to right field into a costly error in the 10th inning Sunday, allowing the decisive run to score in the Indians' 2-1 loss to Texas. On offense, Cleveland stranded 11 baserunners and hit into three double plays.
"If you don't get angry, there's something wrong," said Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner, hitting only .217. "It's on the players. Nobody can give us a magic potion. We have to do it ourselves."
