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White Sox-Blue Jays Preview

Apr 15, 2010 - 4:37 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Chicago (3-5) at Toronto (6-2), 7:07 p.m. EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays got off to a good start this season thanks to a strong rotation.

Following an ugly performance in their last game, the Blue Jays will try to bounce back Thursday night when they close a four-game set against the Chicago White Sox.

Toronto (6-3) entered the week having won five in a row and coming off a three-game sweep of Baltimore. But the Blue Jays have since dropped two of three to Chicago (4-5), which had lost 10 straight in Toronto coming in.

After Ricky Romero held the White Sox to one hit over eight innings the night before, Brandon Morrow gave up seven runs Wednesday in an 11-1 loss, leaving with no outs in the fifth after Carlos Quentin's grand slam.

Quentin finished with six RBIs while Andruw Jones homered for the third time this series and had three hits.

Romero's outstanding start came after Brian Tallet struggled Monday, giving up six runs in six innings. The three have combined for a 7.50 ERA in the series after the rotation had a 3.00 ERA over the first six games.

The Blue Jays already announced one change to the pitching staff before Wednesday's game. Kevin Gregg is replacing Jason Frasor as the team's closer for now after Frasor blew the save in Monday's 11-inning loss.

"I just had a talk with him, we're just going to reverse the roles a little bit until Frasor can get back to where we think he should be," manager Cito Gaston said.

Dana Eveland (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will try to get the Toronto back on track when he takes the mound. Eveland came from Oakland in an offseason trade, and had a strong debut against Baltimore on Saturday, allowing five hits over 7 1/3 innings of a 3-0 win.

The left-hander has made one start against the White Sox, allowing four runs in 4 2/3 innings of a 4-1 loss in 2008 while with the Athletics.

He'll look to cool off Chicago, which has won three of four after a four-game losing streak in which it scored 10 runs. The White Sox were hitting .186 through their first five games but have boosted their season average to .227 after recording 15 hits Wednesday.

Jones has settled in following a rough start, going 6 for 14 with five RBIs in the series after starting 1 for 8 in his first four games.

Chicago is looking to win its first series in Toronto since taking two of three Aug. 4-6, 2006.

The White Sox will hand the ball to Freddy Garcia (0-1, 2.57), who pitched seven innings against Minnesota on Saturday, allowing two runs, three hits and five walks in the 2-1 loss.

The runs came after Garcia allowed a seventh-inning homer to Jason Kubel, but manager Ozzie Guillen was pleased with how the right-hander fared.

"A lot of people had doubts on Freddy, including myself on the way he pitched in spring training," Guillen said. "I think Freddy Garcia proved everybody wrong."

Garcia is 6-4 with a 5.50 ERA in 13 starts against the Blue Jays, but he has not faced them since 2006.