Gamethread: A’s at White Sox

Could a two-game winning streak be possible?

Thanks to a few inches that went their way, the White Sox last night ended their home losing streak and the string of losses when Chris Flexen started, no matter how hard the bullpen tried to keep those stretches going. Today they even have before them the possibility of their first multi-game winning streak and first series win since the Coolidge administration (OK, it was June, but it sure seems like it pre-dated Herbert Hoover).

Trying to accomplish those historic feats will be 6´6´´ righty Sean Burke, making his first big league start and hoping to carry on the excellent performance of his one Sox relief appearance — three innings and just one unearned run against Cleveland.

Oakland counters with much shorter (5´11´´) southpaw JP Sears, who has had a solid season, going 11-10 so far with a 4.18 ERA. Sears has been alternating good and bad outings lately, and since his latest was six innings of shutout ball against the Astros, the Sox can hope they’re in the right segment of that oscillation.

Sears will use a five-pitch repertoire against a White Sox lineup with only two lefties, including last night’s hero, Andrew Benintendi, who nudged the foul pole against another Oakland lefthander.

Burke takes on an Oakland lineup that has two changes from last night, removing batters who had been 0-for-8 with about 100 left on base.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Central, with a forecast of 84°, partly cloudy skies and light wind blowing right to left. Usual broadcast suspects.