Chicago @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 15, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 6, Pittsburgh 4
Gordon Beckham and the Chicago White Sox waited a long time for a breakout performance.
Thanks to Beckham’s big Tuesday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates are still waiting for their own bit of good news.
Beckham looks to build off a strong showing in the series opener as he leads the White Sox into the second of a three-game interleague series tonight against the ice-cold Pirates at PNC Park. Pittsburgh comes into the game having lost nine in a row, its longest streak of futility since last September.
The White Sox earned a 6-4 victory in the opener and Beckham was the difference. The second-year shortstop had two hits and finished with three RBIs as Chicago beat the Pirates for the fifth time in their last six meetings.
Beckham's big night came at a pivotal time for the 23-year-old, who was one of baseball's top rookies last season but has struggled mightily as a sophomore. Beckham came into the series batting .204 with a lone home run, 12 RBIs and 41 strikeouts, and there had been whispers the White Sox might start giving him days off.
Tuesday represented Beckham's first multi-hit game since June 1 - incidentally, the last time he had driven in a run. After swatting 14 homers in 378 at-bats a season ago, Beckham has gone without a round-tripper since hitting his only one of the season April 11 against the Minnesota Twins.
More offense from the struggling infielder would be a welcome development for White Sox starter John Danks (5-5). The 25-year-old left-hander has dropped five of his last seven decisions, but is coming off a one-hit, seven-inning gem in a 3-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Danks has never faced the Pirates in his career, but he probably wishes the game was being played in the afternoon. The 2003 first-round pick has a 3.11 ERA all-time in day games, but sports an ugly 4.55 ERA under the lights. He's 3-4 with a 3.78 ERA in night games this season, and 2-1 with a 2.33 ERA during the day.
It hasn't mattered what time of day the Pirates have played lately - they've been losing them all. Pittsburgh is 2-10 in the month of June, and its current nine-game skid has dropped the Pirates to the bottom of the National League standings at 23-41. They'll need a 58-40 finish to avoid a record 18th consecutive losing season.
Zach Duke gets the start for the Pirates, looking to end his own woes. Duke (3-7) has lost his last three starts, though he deserved a better fate in his last outing, surrendering just two earned runs over five innings but getting little run support in a 4-2 loss to the Washington Nationals. Duke has allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of his last seven starts, but is just 1-1 in those games.
He might be getting some help. Reports out of Pittsburgh suggest the Pirates will recall prospect Pedro Alvarez from Triple-A, and he could be in the lineup in time for today's game.