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Yankees eye first three-game sweep of season

Apr 24, 2008 - 2:00 PM NY Yankees (12-10) at Chi White Sox (11-9) 8:11 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Instead of being handicapped by the absence of Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees are thriving so far without the reigning American League MVP.

The Yankees eye their first three-game sweep of the season on Thursday when they face the Chicago White Sox in the series finale.

Rodriguez strained his right quadriceps on Sunday at Baltimore and did not join the team in Chicago for the start of this series. A day later, his wife gave birth to the couples' second child in Miami on Monday, causing the superstar to miss the first two games of this series.

Leadoff hitter Johnny Damon has more than adequately filled the void left by Rodriguez in both Yankee wins in this series, going 5-for-10 with five runs scored and five RBI in the two games against Chicago.

In an effort to get their first sweep at U.S. Cellular Field in nearly six years, New York will turn to Phil Hughes (0-3, 8.82 ERA), who is coming off another lackluster outing.

The 21-year-old righthander surrendered five runs over 5 1/3 innings in an 8-2 loss at Baltimore on Friday - his second straight outing of allowing more than five runs.

On the other hand, the White Sox will counter with their best pitcher so far in Gavin Floyd (2-0, 1.40), who has yielded a total of three earned runs in three starts this season.

The righthander nearly posted his third win despite allowing two unearned runs and two hits over six innings last Thursday, but the bullpen collapsed late in 6-5, 10-inning loss at Baltimore.