White Sox at Athletics
The Oakland Athletics have revved up their offense in their series against the visiting Chicago White Sox and look to keep it in high gear as they go for a three-game sweep on Wednesday afternoon. Oakland has outscored Chicago 18-3 in capturing the first two games of the set and has given up a total of four runs during its three-game overall winning streak.
The bottom of the Athletics' batting order did most of the damage in Tuesday's 10-2 victory as Mark Canha, Stephen Piscotty and Jonathan Lucroy combined to go 8-for-11 with eight RBIs and five runs scored while Trevor Cahill tossed seven scoreless innings in his season debut after being recalled from the minors. Jed Lowrie celebrated his 34th birthday by going 2-for-4 with a solo homer, giving him 11 RBIs over his last six games. Chicago's bats have yet to thaw following last weekend's blizzard in Minnesota as the team has produced a total of three runs in losing its last three contests. After Jose Abreu homered in the ninth inning of the series opener to avoid a shutout loss for the White Sox, Yoan Moncada launched a two-run shot in the eighth on Tuesday to prevent a similar fate as the club fell for the 10th time in 12 games.
TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Carson Fulmer (0-1, 4.66 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Andrew Triggs (1-0, 2.87)
Fulmer hopes to bounce back from a disappointing outing against Tampa Bay on April 10, when he surrendered four runs - three earned - on five hits and six walks in 4 2/3 innings of a loss. The 24-year-old Floridian issued only one free pass over five frames in his season debut at Toronto but did not factor in the decision after yielding three runs - two earned - and four hits. Fulmer will be facing Oakland for the first time in his career.
Triggs has allowed fewer than three runs in each of his first three starts this season but has just one victory to show for his efforts. The 29-year-old native of Tennessee settled for a no-decision at Seattle on Friday after giving up two runs and five hits over five innings. Wednesday's start will be the first of Triggs' career against the White Sox.
WALK-OFFS
1. Piscotty is 11-for-25 with a homer and six RBIs during his seven-game hitting streak.
2. Chicago hopes to put the ball in play more often in the series finale after striking out 14 times on Tuesday.
3. In addition to Cahill, Oakland recalled RHP Lou Trivino from Triple-A Nashville, designated OF Trayce Thompson for assignment and placed RHP Yusmeiro Petit on the family medical emergency list on Tuesday.