White Sox 7 - 0 Blue Jays
Final
  for this game

Happ shoots for another win against the White Sox

Apr 17, 2013 - 2:02 PM

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(Sports Network) - J.A. Happ wasn't even supposed to start the year in the Toronto Blue Jays' rotation. However, he could be their first starter to three wins on Wednesday when the Blue Jays continue a four-game series with the Chicago White Sox at Rogers Centre.

Happ, who was inserted into the rotation right before the start of the season when Ricky Romero was sent to the minors, struggled a bit his last time out against the Kansas City Royals, as he allowed four runs in five innings, but still picked up the win. He had pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings to win his first start.

"My fastball wasn't working quite like I was hoping for," Happ said. "But I was able to settle down. I knew we were kind of short in the bullpen. I needed to bear down and get through some innings."

Chicago will counter with lefty Jose Quintana, who has pitched to a 4.09 ERA without recording a decision in two starts this season. Quintana followed up an awful season debut on Friday in Cleveland, as he held the Indians to just one hit and struck out seven over seven scoreless innings.

It was a sharp contrast from his first time out against Seattle, which battered him for six runs (5 earned) in only four innings.

Chicago bounced back from a loss in the opener of this series on Tuesday, as Dayan Viciedo provided the go-ahead score in the ninth and the White Sox held on for a 4-3 victory.

Viciedo's double off Steve Delabar (1-1) put the White Sox ahead, 3-2, before Hector Gimenez provided an insurance run with a sacrifice fly.

Addison Reed then surrendered a run in the bottom half of the ninth, but locked down his fifth save of the season. Paul Konerko had two of the White Sox' five hits, providing a solo homer with three runs scored in Chicago's second win in eight games.

Matt Lindstrom (1-0) picked up the win by recording the final out of the eighth, and Dylan Axelrod bounced back from a rough outing in his previous start to toss six innings of two-run ball. He struck out four and allowed seven hits.

"He just continues to pitch and get outs," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Axelrod. "He battled."

J.P. Arencibia hit his fifth homer of the season and Colby Rasmus hit his fourth for Toronto, which received a sacrifice fly from Brett Lawrie in his return to the lineup from an oblique injury.

Josh Johnson turned in his best performance of the season in the setback, allowing two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts over seven frames.

"He had command of different pitches, was able to locate fastball when he needed to and he threw a great game," said Arencibia.

Chicago was 6-4 against the Blue Jays last season.






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