The White Sox have hardly been one of the American League's most potent offenses, but that could change if Adam Dunn continues his return to the slugging form that earned him a big contract from Chicago before last season.
Dunn hit two home runs and drove in five runs to lead the White Sox to a win in the series opener Friday, a surge of power Chicago sorely needs and one that was too much for a weak-hitting Seattle lineup.
The Mariners have scored three or fewer runs in seven of 15 games, and they don't have a regular starter hitting higher than .300.
Seattle struck out a season-high 15 times Friday, including a career-high 11 for White Sox starter Chris Sale. Chone Figgins and Dustin Ackley - the first two hitters in the lineup - each struck out three times.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Philip Humber (0-0, 1.69 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Blake Beavan (1-1, 2.70 ERA)
Humber had to grind it out in his first start of the season, needing 115 pitches to get through 5 2/3 innings against Baltimore. He struck out seven and held the Orioles to one run on six hits but didn't get a decision in the 10-4 loss. Humber went 1-0 in two starts against Seattle last season, allowing three runs in 14 2/3 innings.
After a tough-luck loss in a 1-0 defeat against Texas in his season debut, Beavan evened his record with another strong outing Sunday against Oakland. He allowed three runs on six hits over seven innings. The 23-year-old has never faced the White Sox.
WALK-OFFS
1. On Friday, Dunn had his first three-hit game since May 11, 2011, and his first multi-HR game since Sept. 24, 2010.
2. Dunn had hit 38 or more home runs in seven straight seasons when the White Sox signed him to a lucrative free-agent deal, but hit only 11 last year.
3. No Mariners player has more than one hit against Humber, and Ichiro Suzuki is 0-for-6 against him.