Chicago @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2012 ) Chi. White Sox 2, LA Angels 6
The Los Angeles Angels continue their quest for a postseason berth Saturday when they host the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox in the middle contest of the their three-game series. Los Angeles posted a 6-2 victory in Friday's opener to climb within 3 1/2 games of Oakland for the second wild-card spot in the AL. Albert Pujols and Torii Hunter had two RBIs apiece while rookie Mike Trout and Kendrys Morales hit solo home runs for the Angels, who are 2-2 on their nine-game homestand.
Trout's blast, which ended his 10-game RBI drought, has 28 homers and 88 RBIs. The latter two numbers are tops among major-league rookies. He also scored twice to become the fourth rookie since 1964 with 120 or more runs scored. Friday's loss reduced Chicago's division lead over Detroit to 1 1/2 games. The White Sox, who have lost three straight contests, have dropped four of their last six season series against the Angels. They are 3-3 versus Los Angeles this year with two games remaining.
TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), FSN West (Los Angeles), MLB Network
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Jose Quintana (6-4, 3.69 ERA) vs. Angels RH Dan Haren (11-11, 4.41)
Quintana is coming off back-to-back home starts against Detroit. After allowing one run over 7 2/3 innings in a victory on Sept. 10, the 23-year-old Colombian escaped with a no-decision on Monday after surrendering four runs in as many frames. Quintana fell to 3-1 on the road when he yielded five runs in 3 2/3 innings at Baltimore on Aug. 30.
Haren posted his third win in four starts Sunday, when he allowed three runs - two earned - and five hits in 5 2/3 innings at Kansas City. The 32-year-old has yielded three runs or less in eight of his last 10 outings. Haren, who is just 4-8 with a 4.89 ERA in 14 home starts, limited the White Sox to one run and four hits over six frames on Aug. 5 at Chicago.
WALK-OFFS
1. Haren is 1-1 with a 3.64 ERA in five career starts against the White Sox.
2. White Sox DH Paul Konerko went 0-for-4 in the series opener after missing a game with back soreness.
3. The Angels have registered a major league-leading 73 games with 10 or more hits. They fell one hit shy of increasing that number on Friday.