(Sports Network) - The Chicago White Sox try to win their third straight game this evening they continue their three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this evening at Angel Stadium.
The White Sox drew first blood in this series on Friday, when Alex Rios drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the top of the ninth inning to propel Chicago to a 2-1 win. Paul Konerko hit his 38th homer of the year for the White Sox, who had lost eight in a row prior to this winning streak.
Freddy Garcia, pitching for the first time since September 7 because of a bad back, gave up one run on four hits over six innings for Chicago. Matt Thornton (5-4) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless frames of relief to pick up the win.
"He threw strikes. He did everything to help this team win today," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said of Garcia after the game.
With the score tied at 1-1, Fernando Rodney (4-3) took the mound for the Angels in the top of the ninth and walked Juan Pierre before Omar Vizquel singled to put men on first and second with one out. Rios' base hit up the middle plated Pierre to put Chicago ahead.
Thornton struck out the side in the home ninth to secure the victory.
Torii Hunter drove in the lone run for Los Angeles, which has lost two straight following a three-game win streak. Joel Pineiro was solid in eight innings, allowing one run on four hits.
The Angels were eliminated from postseason contention after Texas beat Oakland on Friday.
"It's tough to be eliminated. Nobody looks forward to this," said Hunter. "This is a bad feeling. We just have to finish strong and try to get to .500."
Getting the ball for the White Sox this evening will be lefty John Danks, who is 13-11 with a 3.80 ERA. Danks saw his winless streak hit three games when he received a no-decision in Detroit on Sunday, surrendering seven runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 9-7 loss.
Danks tossed a two-hit shutout to beat the Angels back on July 8 and is 2-3 with a 2.61 ERA in eight starts against them.
Los Angeles will counter with lefty Scott Kazmir, who won for the first time in six decisions on Sunday. Kazmir beat his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays, by holding them a run and six hits in five innings to improve to 9-14 on the year to go along with a 5.84 ERA.
Kazmir was roughed up for seven runs in 6 1/3 innings the last time he faced the White Sox and is 3-4 lifetime against them with a 5.27 ERA in nine starts.
Chicago has won five of its seven matchups with Los Angeles this year.