Oakland @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2010 ) Oakland 6, Chi. White Sox 2
The Chicago White Sox have been so hot, it's news when they lose a game.
And the White Sox made news Saturday night when their 12-game winning streak at U.S. Cellular Field was snapped in a 6-2 loss to Oakland.
The defeat cost Chicago a chance to match its longest home winning streak since taking 13 in a row during the 1989 season. The loss also snapped a five-game winning streak overall and cut Chicago's lead over Minnesota in the American League Central to a half-game.
The White Sox are still the hottest team in baseball since June 9. Chicago has won 19 of 21 at home and is 32-12 since that date.
Strong starting pitching is one of the many reasons the White Sox have been playing so well. Right-hander Gavin Floyd, who starts the final game of the series, has led the way.
Floyd, who pitched poorly early in the season, has lost once in his last eight starts. He's been nearly unhittable since getting hammered for six runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings against Texas on June 2. Floyd has allowed two earned runs or less in his last 10 starts.
His resurgence can be directly related to keeping the ball in the park. He hasn't allowed a home run since that dreadful start against Texas when Matt Treanor took him deep in the third inning. Floyd has gone 70 innings without giving up a homer.
Floyd hasn't given up a run in his last two outings, both coming against Seattle. He pitched seven scoreless innings in both games, allowing 10 hits, striking out 12 and walking one.
The hot stretch marks a big turnaround for Floyd, who was 2-6 in his first 11 starts and had trouble getting past six innings.
Despite the fact the White Sox have been playing so well, they can't shake the Twins, who have won seven straight.
Athletics left-hander Dallas Braden is the only pitcher who has been able to stop the White Sox. He pitched a complete game Saturday in beating Chicago for the second time in a week.
Gio Gonzalez gets his chance to duplicate Braden's effort. He went toe-to-toe with Texas Rangers ace Cliff Lee on Tuesday, allowing one run in six innings in a game the A's lost in 10 innings. Gonzalez isn't overpowering, but has done a good job keeping his team in games. He has lost only once in his last seven starts and has won three of his last four decisions.
Saturday's win moved the A's over the .500 mark, but they still trail Texas by 8 1/2 games in the AL West.