Athletics 0 - 1 White Sox
Final
  for this game

A's aim for split with White Sox

Sep 11, 2014 - 1:03 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Oakland Athletics aim for a much-needed split with the Chicago White Sox on Thursday afternoon in the finale of a four-game series.

The A's have lost 10 of their last 13 to fall nine games behind the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for first place in the AL West. They do hold a 1 1/2-game edge for a wild card spot, but have been unable to post consecutive victories since Aug. 22-23.

Oakland evened this series with a big 11-2 win on Tuesday, but was bested 2-1 last night due to some shaky defense.

Chicago scored both of its runs in the eighth inning, taking advantage of Nate Freiman's throwing error on an Adam Eaton grounder in an attempt to start a double play. Both runners were safe and Avisail Garcia eventually chased them home with a single to center.

The White Sox had lost four in a row before taking two of the first three in this set to play the role of spoiler.

"We want to show that we're not dead," said Eaton. "The White Sox are here to stay. We're going to be better next year, and we're going to continue to push to be better. It starts with this month, finish on a good note."

Adam Dunn, acquired from the White Sox on Aug. 31, drove in the lone run for the Athletics, who led the AL West by four games as recent as Aug. 10.

"I haven't been here very long, but there's no quit in this team," Dunn said. "Obviously we're disappointed, but you just hope to get hot at the right time."

Dunn and his teammates will try to get hot today against the AL's earned run average leader in Chris Sale, who has won only once in his past seven starts.

Sale did not factor into a 2-1 Chicago loss to Cleveland on Friday despite giving up just one run on five hits and a walk over six innings. The lefty is 11-3 with a 2.09 ERA on the year.

Sale is 2-2 with a save and 3.62 ERA in nine games (4 starts) lifetime versus the Athletics, who are hoping Scott Kazmir can get back on track today.

Kazmir struggled with his command on Saturday versus Houston in a no-decision as he walked five batters over 6 1/3 innings. He did allow only three hits and three runs, striking out eight to keep his team in a game it eventually won 4-3.

The 30-year-old southpaw was coming off back-to-back losses in which he allowed a total of 13 runs, 12 hits and six walks over just 4 1/3 innings.

Kazmir is 14-7 with a 3.42 ERA this season and 3-5 with a 5.89 ERA lifetime versus the White Sox in 11 starts.

The Athletics have won eight of their past 13 versus the White Sox, splitting a four-game set last season in Chicago.






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