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D'Backs conclude series with White Sox at Chase Field

Jun 19, 2011 - 3:02 PM (Sports Network) - The Arizona Diamondbacks look to get back on track and stay within striking distance of the top spot in the National League West Division when they close out a three-game interleague series Sunday afternoon versus the Chicago White Sox from Chase Field.

Arizona dropped a 6-2 decision last night in the second installment of this series, as Zach Duke absorbed the loss after he surrendered three runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings of work. Micah Owings added to the frustration by giving up three runs in two innings of relief.

"Overall, it was a step in the right direction," Duke said on Arizona's website. "I left a few pitches up in the zone that they hit for extra-base hits, but still kept the team in the game and gave them a chance to win."

The Diamondbacks got their runs in the fourth inning when Willie Bloomquist scored on a passed ball and Justin Upton plated Stephen Drew with a sacrifice fly. Chris Young finished with two hits for Arizona, which entered the game having won two straight and five of seven games and remained a half-game behind San Francisco for the NL West lead. The Giants lost to Oakland last night at the Coliseum.

Arizona will wrap up a six-game homestand Sunday before hitting the road for six more at Kansas City and Detroit.

Diamondbacks rookie Josh Collmenter draws the start this afternoon and is 4-2 with a 1.86 earned run average in 14 games (7 starts). Collmenter is 1-2 in his previous three decisions and dropped a 6-5 decision to San Francisco the last time out on Tuesday.

Collmenter was banged around for five runs and eight hits in five innings, falling to 3-1 in seven games (3 starts) in the desert. The right-hander, who has lasted at least five innings in four straight and six of seven appearances, will face the White Sox for the first time and has never pitched against an AL club.

Chicago was able to end a three-game slide thanks to starter John Danks, who limited the D'Backs to two runs -- one earned -- and seven hits over seven innings. He also fanned seven batters, walked none and survived a scare in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Bloomquist led off with a single and Drew followed by rocketing a pitch back to the mound. Danks couldn't avoid the ball and managed to turn his head, but it bounced off the lefty and went of play along the third base line for a ground-rule double. Danks was smiling as team personnel examined him on the mound, and ultimately stayed in the game.

"I felt it, I'm not going to lie," Danks said. "That's just my personality. I like to have a good time. I didn't think I was hurt."

Alex Rios hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and finished with four RBI, while Paul Konerko finished 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and a pair of runs scored for the White Sox, who will return to the Windy City after this set to host both the Cubs and Nationals for six games.

Konerko is tied with Larry Walker for 57th place on the all-time home runs list with 383, one behind Harold Baines for the 56th spot and two in back of Dwight Evans. Johnny Bench is 54th with 389 homers. Konerko is batting .446 with a .908 slugging percentage, eight homers, 18 RBI and 29 hits over his last 17 games.

The White Sox hope Philip Humber can keep his current unbeaten streak alive when he toes the rubber Sunday afternoon. Humber is 4-0 with a 2.93 earned run average in his last six starts and made it three straight wins with Sunday's 5-4 victory over Oakland.

Humber held the A's to three runs and four hits with seven strikeouts, improving to 6-3 in 14 games (12 starts) with a 2.95 ERA. Chicago has won each of his past four trips to the mound. The righty, who has thrown at least seven innings in five consecutive starts, owns a 3-1 record on the road and has never faced Arizona before.

The White Sox own a stellar 146-106 record in interleague action. They had won 13 of 15 and 20 of the past 24 games against the National League before Friday's setback. Chicago is 42-17 in interleague action since 2008. Arizona is 94-113 against the American League.