Toronto @ Chicago preview
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Last Meeting ( Apr 15, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 3, Toronto 7
Chicago White Sox center fielder Alex Rios had some harsh words for team officials and fans upon his exit from Toronto last season.
Blue Jay fans returned the favor heckling him throughout his first trip back to the city earlier in the year.
The feud continues in Chicago Thursday as Rios and the White Sox host the Blue Jays in the opener of a four-game series at U.S. Cellular Field. The teams split their four-game series at the Rogers Centre in mid-April.
Rios, who suffered through a miserable 2009 season, is finally letting his bat do the talking. After hitting just .199 in 41 games after the White Sox claimed him off waivers from the Blue Jays, Rios is batting .309 this year. Rios cracked his fourth homer of the year on Wednesday and added three RBIs in Chicago’s 9-2 win over Kansas City. Rios has 14 RBIs on the season.
Rios was miffed with the Blue Jays for letting him go last season while the two-time All-Star still had five years remaining on his contract. He then drew the ire of the Toronto fans in his first trip back to the city by questioning their devotion. Rios said the Blue Jays only had a few diehard fans and the only thing they truly cared about was hockey.
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen agreed with Rios’ assessment during his club’s trip to Toronto and even took things a step further. Guillen said the situation had gotten so bad that the Blue Jays should consider moving to Venezuela.
It may be time that Rios and Guillen start worrying about their own team. While the Blue Jays are riding a four-game winning streak and are 16-13 on the season, the White Sox trail AL Central-leading Minnesota by seven games.
John Danks, who has been spectacular on the season, starts for Chicago. Danks (3-0) has not allowed more than two runs in any of his five starts. The White Sox have used his 1.85 ERA to win his last four starts including a 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees last weekend.
Danks lasted five innings that outing, his shortest of the season, but left with a 5-2 lead his bullpen failed to hold.
The Blue Jays continue their roller coaster season. After losing six of seven games, Toronto has responded by winning six of its last seven. On Wednesday, the Blue Jays scored three times in the ninth inning to cap a three-game sweep at Cleveland. Adam Lind struck the big blow, a two-run homer with two outs off Chris Perez.
Toronto sports the major league’s second-best record on the road at 9-3. It also leads the majors with 43 home runs.
Dana Eveland (2-1) will start for the Blue Jays. The left-hander beat the White Sox 7-3 earlier in the season.