Toronto @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( May 7, 2010 ) Toronto 7, Chi. White Sox 4
Brett Cecil was well aware of the fact that he was working on a perfect game in his last outing. He was just too sick to worry about it.
After falling short in his history-making bid, Cecil makes the start for the streaking Toronto Blue Jays in the third of a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on Saturday night.
Cecil (2-1, 2.61 ERA) allowed just one hit in eight innings in a 5-1 win at the Cleveland Indians in his last start. It was third time this season that a Blue Jays starter had flirted with a no-hitter. While none have been able to finish the job, just gutting out the win was certainly impressive enough for Cecil, who was battling a sinus infection throughout the contest.
Cecil struck out 10 batters and walked two in the game. He didn't allow a base-runner until he walked Grady Sizemore with one out in the seventh. Another walk followed and then Jhonny Peralta ended both the no-hitter and the shutout with a single to left field.
The 37th pick in the 2007 draft, Cecil was recalled by the Blue Jays after Brian Tallet went on the disabled list with left forearm tightness. He hopes to make this stay a permanent one. He has already beaten the Tampa Bay Rays this season and pitched well in a 2-0 loss against the Boston Red Sox.
Cecil made 18 starts last year with Toronto posting a 7-4 record.
The Blue Jays won for the sixth straight time on Friday. Alex Gonzalez hit a three-run homer - his ninth of the season - in the 12th inning to give Toronto a 7-4 victory. Blue Jays catcher John Buck homered twice in the game.
Jake Peavy (1-2) starts for the White Sox. After four poor performances in five outings, Peavy finally returned to form in a dominating 5-1 win over the Kansas City Royals in his last appearance.
Peavy, who went 3-0 with the club last year after coming over from the San Diego Padres, struck out nine and allowed just four hits and no runs in the victory.
Paul Konerko is questionable for the White Sox, who sorely miss his power stroke. Konerko leads the majors with 12 home runs on the season but missed his second straight game on Friday with a sore neck. Konerko was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup with the injury which is not believed to be serious.
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen also benched second baseman Gordon Beckham on Friday.
Beckham committed two errors and struck out three times in Thursday's game. Guillen said that it appeared that Beckham's plate appearances were being affected by his fielding miscues and wanted him to improve his body language and confidence.