White Sox 3 - 4 Blue Jays
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Buehrle faces former team for first time

Apr 15, 2013 - 1:50 PM

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(Sports Network) - Mark Buehrle faces the team he spent the first 12 years of his career with on Monday when the Toronto Blue Jays open up a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Rogers Centre.

Buehrle racked up 161 wins and was a four-time All-Star for the White Sox before signing a 4-year, $58 million deal with the Miami Marlins last offseason. However, after winning 13 games for the Marlins in 2013, Buehrle was dealt to Toronto as part of a monster 12-player deal.

Thus far it's been a rough return to the American League for the 32-year-old left-hander, who has yet to record a decision in two starts, but is pitching to a 10.24 ERA.

After surrendering six runs in his Blue Jays debut, Buehrle failed to get out of the fifth inning on Wednesday in Detroit, as he again allowed six runs (5 earned) and seven hits in just 4 1/3 innings.

Toronto enters this series on the heels of its first series win of the season, as it took two of three from the Kansas City Royals. The Blue Jays were denied the sweep on Sunday, falling 3-2 at Kauffman Stadium.

"It was a well-pitched game on both sides," said Toronto manager John Gibbons. "They made some great defensive plays and took some hits away from us. I thought we played great in all three games in his series."

Chicago, meanwhile, snapped a five-game slide on Sunday, as Paul Konerko clubbed a go-ahead two-run homer to lift the White Sox to a 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

Alejandro De Aza added a solo shot to help back Jake Peavy (2-1), who struck out 11 Indians while giving up just five hits and one run over seven innings.

"Knew it was going to be tight," Peavy said. "Fortunately, we came out on the right side of things."

Addison Reed worked around a two-out walk to earn his fourth save of the season. It's Chicago's first road win of the year, avoiding its first 0-6 start away from home since 1968.

On Monday, Chicago will hand the ball to righty Gavin Floyd, who is 0-2 with a 5.56 ERA. Floyd's most recent loss came on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals, as he allowed five runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"It's something to look at, re-evaluate -- maybe different location would be better," said Floyd, who thought he made pretty good pitches, even ones that were struck solidly. "Early on, I was cruising, and then one hit after the other and tried to keep making pitches."

Floyd has faced the Blue Jays nine times (7 starts) and is 2-5 with a 5.64 ERA.

On this the 66th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier Major League Baseball is commemorating this special occasion by having all players and on-field personnel once again wear the Hall of Famer's No. 42.






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