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Chicago White Sox made one of the more notable moves during Thursday's trade deadline, prying legendary slugger Ken Griffey Jr. away from the
Cincinnati Reds. The veteran outfielder is set to make his debut in a White Sox uniform tonight, when the American League Central leaders start up a three-game series against the
Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
The White Sox acquired the 13-time All-Star and 1997 AL MVP in exchange for second baseman Danny Richar and right-handed pitcher Nick Masset, and Griffey is expected to be in the lineup as the center fielder for tonight's opener.
The 38-year-old batted .245 with 15 homers and 53 RBI in 102 games for the Reds this season.
Griffey will attempt to add a boost to a Chicago squad that has lost four of its last five contests and seen its lead atop the AL Central dwindle to just a half-game over surging Minnesota. The Twins closed the gap by just taking three of four meetings from the White Sox at the Metrodome, including Thursday's 10-6 triumph in the finale.
Jason Kubel slugged a tie-breaking three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning for Minnesota, which scored four times during the frame to erase a 4-3 deficit.
White Sox reliever Matt Thornton (4-3) was saddled with the loss after allowing the go-ahead run to reach base, although Kubel's blast came against Octavio Dotel.
Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye each had two-run homers for Chicago, which also received a two-RBI single from A.J. Pierzynski.
The White Sox are now 3-4 on a current 10-game road trip and just 25-31 as the visitor this season. Chicago has fared pretty well in Kansas City as of late, however, as the Pale Hose are 8-4 at Kauffman Stadium since the beginning of last season.
Chicago won two of three tests from the Royals in Kansas City from July 8-10 and six of the nine overall matchups between these division foes this year.
The Royals enter this series on a roll, however. The club has ripped off four consecutive wins and swept a three-game series from the floundering Athletics in Oakland earlier in the week.
Kansas City came through in extra innings in Wednesday's finale against the A's, with Jose Guillen knocking in Esteban German for the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th.
German drew a leadoff walk against Oakland closer Huston Street to start the 10th and took third on Mike Aviles' double before Guillen sent him home with a fly ball.
Aviles finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI, while Alex Gordon set a Royals record by walking five times during the game.
Ramon Ramirez (2-1) picked up the win for Kansas City by throwing 1 1/3 frames of scoreless relief. Joakim Soria then pitched a perfect bottom of the 10th to nail down his 30th save of the season.
Luke Hochevar tries to keep the Royals' run going when he takes the mound in tonight's opener. The former No. 1 overall pick is just 1-3 with a 7.67 earned run average over his last five starts, but did come through with a decent effort his most recent time out.
Against Tampa Bay on Saturday, Hochevar held the Rays to two runs and four hits in five innings of work. He did not factor in the decision of Kansas City's 5-3 loss.
Hochevar made his first career start against Chicago at U.S. Cellular Field on June 4, a game in which he allowed four runs and walked five in a 5 2/3-inning no-decision. The 24-year-old also pitched 3 1/3 scoreless frames in relief versus the Sox last September.
He'll be matched up against the struggling Javier Vazquez this evening. The Chicago righty is 0-4 with a 6.23 ERA in six appearances since gaining a victory over Pittsburgh on June 17, and he's coming off a tough time in Detroit this past Sunday.
Vazquez did pitch seven innings in Chicago's 6-4 setback to the Tigers, but he was reached for six runs and 11 hits and wound up with the loss. The veteran hurler has now surrendered five runs or more in six of his last eight starts.
The 32-year-old is an impressive 6-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 11 career starts against Kansas City, including a 2-0 mark in five Kauffman Stadium outings. However, Vazquez was tagged for six runs and 11 hits through 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision versus the Royals in Kansas City on July 9.
