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White Sox attempt to keep offense rolling vs. Pirates

Jun 18, 2008 - 1:48 PM Pittsburgh (34-37) at Chi White Sox (39-31) 8:11 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- With longtime middle-of-the-order fixture Paul Konerko placed on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, the Chicago White Sox honored their injured slugger with an offensive showcase later that evening.

The White Sox attempt to build off their series-opening rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates when the teams continue their interleague series on Wednesday.

Konerko, who suffered a strained left oblique muscle while hitting in the batting cage Sunday, went on the disabled list for the first time in his career on Tuesday. His absence didn't appear to affect the White Sox, who belted four homers and recorded a season-high 19 hits in their series-opening 16-5 rout of the Pirates.

Tom Gorzelanny (5-5, 5.65 ERA), who ended a three-game winless drought with a win in his last start, will be tasked with the responsibility of holding Chicago's offense down on Wednesday. In defeating Washington on Thursday, the lefthander allowed three runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out a season-high six.

However, Gorzelanny will hope to halt his struggles on the road, where he is 1-4 with a 9.23 ERA in six starts this season, as opposed to his 4-1 record and 4.89 ERA at home.

Mark Buehrle (3-6, 4.47) will be seeking a repeat of his last two outings, both eight-inning outings with similar lines. After yielding one run and seven hits in a win against Minnesota on June 7, he repeated the feat in a no-decision on Thursday, a 2-1 loss at Detroit.

Working in his favor is his track record against the Pirates, against Buehrle is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in two career starts against them.