Andre Rienzo tries to win his fourth straight decision on Tuesday when the Chicago White Sox continue a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Rienzo did not get a decision on Wednesday in Oakland, but pitched well, as he surrendered two runs and two hits in 6 1/3 frames. He also walked a pair and struck out four in his team's 4-2 win.
In fact, the White Sox have won all six times (5 starts) Rienzo has pitched this season.
"He's done well," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "He's improved, I know that. Today is no different. He was tough out there. He was throwing strikes, kind of bobbing and weaving to get through."
Rienzo has faced the Royals twice and is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA.
Kansas City, meanwhile, will counter with 22-year-old righty Yordano Ventura, who has lost his last two starts. Ventura pitched well in defeat on Thursday against Baltimore, as he allowed two runs and struck out nine over 6 1/3 innings, but still fell to 2-3 on the year to go along with a 2.40 ERA.
The Royals have managed just two runs in his last two starts.
"He pitched great," second baseman Johnny Giavotella said after his last outing. "We just couldn't back him up with any runs."
Yordano gave up three home runs in a loss in his only other start against the White Sox late last season.
"I pitched four innings and they hit three homers," Ventura said. "But this year, it's a new deal."
Chicago rallied for a win in Monday's opener, as Paul Konerko's two-run homer in the fifth helped the White Sox erase an early five-run deficit and defeat Kansas City, 7-6. Alexei Ramirez had a three-run homer and four RBI and Dayan Viciedo added a solo shot for Chicago, which snapped a two-game losing streak.
Zach Putnam (2-0) earned the win in relief and Jake Petricka recorded the final two outs in the ninth to nail down his first career save.
Royals starter Jason Vargas (4-2) yielded seven runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings in the loss.
"I don't get too mad about a lot of things, but you know, coughing it up halfway through the fifth inning is not good enough to get it done," said Vargas. "I coughed it up for us tonight."
Eric Hosmer finished with three RBI and Lorenzo Cain knocked in two runs for the Royals, who had won two straight entering the contest.
Kansas City took two of three from the ChiSox earlier in the season.
[SportsNetwork.com]
