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Giants, White Sox counter ace with ace in series finale

Jun 18, 2014 - 12:41 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Tim Hudson looks to extend the incredible start to his San Francisco career on Wednesday afternoon when the Giants conclude a quick two-game series with the Chicago White Sox.

Sidelined for the rest of the 2013 season after suffering a fractured ankle on July 24 while with the Atlanta Braves, Hudson signed with the Giants in the offseason and has put together an excellent campaign so far. He is 7-2 through 13 outings and his 1.81 earned run average is the best in the majors.

The right-hander has not allowed more than three earned runs since an outing on April 13 and has not been charged with an earned run in three of his last four starts, all victories. He yielded just one unearned run on Thursday's 7-1 victory over Washington, scattering six hits and two walks over seven innings.

"I was very excited getting him here. He's done all we hoped for and more," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy.

Hudson, who will turn 39 in July, has posted a 1.37 ERA in six road assignments this season, but both of his losses have come away from San Francisco as well. He is 4-3 with a 5.15 ERA in his career versus the White Sox.

Chicago counter ace with ace in Chris Sale, who can hardly be blamed in last week's 4-0 loss to Detroit that handed the lefty his first setback of the year.

Sale gave up just one run on five hits over seven innings of the setback on Thursday, walking none while matching a season high with 10 strikeouts. However, he was outdueled by Detroit's Max Scherzer, who logged a three-hit shutout.

"I always set my mind to not worry who I'm pitching against, more just who's in their lineup," said Sale. "I just go about things as it's just another start."

Sale, 25, fell to 5-1 with a 1.97 ERA on the year and has fanned 68 to nine walks in 59 1/3 innings. He has never before faced the Giants.

The White Sox opened this brief series with an 8-2 win on Tuesday, getting two-run homers from Gordon Beckham and Dayan Viciedo. Beckham's homer tied the game in the third inning, while Viciedo's two-out shot in the fifth inning capped Chicago's surge ahead.

Adam Eaton, Adam Dunn and Tyler Flowers all drove in a run for the White Sox, who snapped a four-game skid.

John Danks tossed a solid 6 1/3 innings to win his third straight start, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts.

"He has pitched to where he is always giving us a chance out there," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "It seems like he has a little more on it when he's spotting his fastball."

In his worst outing of the year, Matt Cain was tagged for eight runs -- seven earned -- on 10 hits and a walk over just five innings to absorb the loss.

"The third inning was a little long and (Cain) ended up giving up the home run, then he got derailed," said Bochy.

Hunter Pence had a solo home run and Buster Posey added an RBI for the Giants, who have dropped a season-high four straight games and seven of their last eight.

The White Sox picked up a three-game road sweep in a 2008 encounter, while the Giants won two of three when they last visited Chicago's South Side.