Chicago @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( May 16, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 5, LA Angels 4

The Chicago White Sox will try to win four in a row for the first time this season when they visit the Los Angeles Angels in the second game of their four-game series on Friday. The White Sox have been hampered by defensive miscues this season, but it was the Angels who played poorly in the field in Thursday’s 5-4 loss. Los Angeles shortstop Erick Aybar committed two errors, first baseman Albert Pujols pulled his foot off the bag too soon on what would have been a double play and center fielder Mike Trout overthrew a cutoff man - allowing Alexei Ramirez to take an extra base at the start of the three-run eighth inning.

The White Sox have to be pleased with what they’re getting from Adam Dunn the last three games. He’s 5-for-10 in that span after hitting .145 in his first 33 contests. He delivered an RBI single in the eighth inning on Thursday to tie the game, then scored the go-ahead run on a bases-loaded walk to Jeff Keppinger, the first walk he drew in 141 plate appearances this season, ending the longest such streak in the majors.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), FSN West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Chris Sale (4-2, 2.88 ERA) vs. Angels LH C.J. Wilson (3-2, 3.88)

Sale and Wilson matched up Sunday in Chicago, and Sale was nearly unhittable, throwing a 98-pitch one-hitter with no walks and seven strikeouts in the 3-0 victory. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last 15 1/3 innings and hasn’t walked a batter in his last 17 1/3. Sale made his other career start against the Angels a year ago Friday at Angel Stadium, giving up one run – a homer by Pujols - in 5 1/3 innings of a 6-1 victory. Sale is 18-8 since that win, emerging as one of the top pitchers in the majors. Pujols, Trout and Josh Hamilton are a combined 3-for-20 against Sale in their careers.

Wilson has thrown at least 109 pitches in each of his last seven starts but still is trying to get through the seventh inning this season. Cutting down on his walks would help. He entered Thursday second in the majors with 28 free passes, thus averaging 18.1 pitches per inning - the seventh-most in the league. Still, he has managed to pitch out of most of the jams. Wilson has allowed three earned runs or fewer in his last six starts, getting through the sixth inning in five of those outings. He has been fairly tough on the White Sox over his career, going 3-2 with a 3.09 ERA while surrendering one home run in 35 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Angels are 3-17 this season when Mike Trout doesn’t score a run.

2. The White Sox own the same record they had through 39 games last season (18-21).

3. The Angels lost for the second time in 13 games Thursday when leading after seven innings.

PREDICTION: White Sox 3, Angels 1