Headlines of August 21, 2015 “White Sox romp with five-run fifth inning” … David Adler and Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Soto's bunt, replay review spark breakthrough” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Hahn won't discuss future during season” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Players hope retro jerseys are comfortable” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Sale rides hot streak into start vs. Mariners” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “White Sox to wear business-y collared throwback unis” … Michael Clair, MLB.com – Cut4 “White Sox finally give Jose Quintana some run support in 8-2 victory” … Curtis Zupke, Chicago Tribune “Thursday's recap: White Sox 8, Angels 2” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “As rumors resurface, White Sox's Ken Williams says he's focused on the now” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “White Sox to wear collared jerseys -- but not shorts -- for Throwback Thursday” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “Up next: White Sox at Mariners” … Chicago Tribune “White Sox defeat Angels to avoid four-game sweep” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun Times “Former MLB manager says Chris Sale is dominant but inconsistent” … David Just, Chicago Sun Times “White Sox GM Rick Hahn on 2015: Tough to stomach” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun Times “White Sox will wear 1976 ‘pajamas’ for throwback game” … Dan Cahill, Chicago Sun Times “Chris Widger offers insights into 2005 White Sox season during reddit Q&A” … David Just, Chicago Sun Times “Chris Sale simply a swing-and-miss, dominating machine” … Jayson Stark, ESPN.com “White Sox avoid 4-game sweep with 8-2 win over Angels” … Associated Press, ESPN.com “Jose Abreu, Adam LaRoche pace White Sox to win over Halos” … Dan Hayes, CSN “Rick Hahn on White Sox season: 'We're all disappointed'” … Dan Hayes, CSN “White Sox on 1976 jerseys: 'They are definitely interesting'” … C. Roumeliotis, CSN “White Sox could deal pitching this winter to solve other issues” … Dan Hayes, CSN “Spiegel: If Williams wants to leave Chicago White Sox, the time is right” … Matt Spiegel, Daily Herald

White Sox romp with five-run fifth inning By David Adler and Scott Merkin / MLB.com | 3:51 AM ET ANAHEIM -- Jose Quintana threw six innings of two-run baseball and the White Sox broke open Thursday night's series finale against the Angels with a five-run fifth inning, avoiding a four-game sweep at Angel Stadium with an 8-2 win.

Jose Abreu had the big hit in the fifth, a two-run double down the left-field line that put a quick end to Angels starter Nick Tropeano's night. The rookie right-hander, who was called up to make his third start of the season in place of the optioned Matt Shoemaker, allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings. Adam LaRoche added a two-run homer in the eighth, which gave him his first multi-hit game in August and just his second since July 9.

"It just seemed like in the fifth, things got a little bit away from what Nick was trying to do out there," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Lost his fastball command a little bit, struggled putting some guys away, and they put together a pretty good string and knocked him out of the game."

"Guys swung the bats tonight right out of the gate," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Just a nice job of going to the plate and making stuff happen."

Mike Trout had a pair of hits for the Angels, giving him three in his last two games after a season-long four-game hitless streak in which he went 0-for-12. Albert Pujols lined a two-out RBI single in the fifth, his first hit with runners in scoring

position in 12 chances. With the Astros, Orioles and Rangers all losing Thursday, the Angels held onto their half-game lead for the second American League Wild Card spot and remained 2 1/2 games back of Houston in the AL West.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Quintana handles adversity: The White Sox southpaw found himself in a bases-loaded, two-out situation in the third with the game tied at one. It was a situation almost of design, as Quintana walked Trout and Pujols after Kole Calhoun's single, being very careful with the two sluggers. C.J. Cron swung at the next pitch and grounded out to Tyler Saladino to end the inning.

"I tried not to make any mistakes to Trout and Pujols," Quintana said.

Iannetta snaps skid: Angels catcher Chris Iannetta, who entered Thursday's game mired in a 3-for-43 slump going back to July 24, ended an 0-for-17 hitless stretch with a single through the middle in the sixth inning. Iannetta had played just once in the past week, using what Scioscia called a "breather" to work with hitting coaches Don Baylor and Dave Hansen. Iannetta hitting would be an important boost for the Angels, considering the veteran's value behind the plate: Iannetta is, for example, a much better pitch framer than rookie Carlos Perez.

"This whole thing's been really weird. It has. I've felt really good at the plate this whole stretch," Iannetta said. "I've just been through this stretch of 40 at-bats that have been awful. But in that time, I've felt really good. I can't identify anything mechanically that I'm doing -- and I've changed a bunch of things up since then."

Soto digs the small ball: Six hits contributed to five runs for the White Sox in the fifth, but none might have been bigger than Geovany Soto's bunt single. His bunt actually came on a two-strike pitch, following singles from LaRoche and Alexei Ramirez to open the inning.

Tropeano struggles: Tropeano looked solid through the first four innings, holding the White Sox to two hits and one run on a groundout. But in the fifth, Tropeano couldn't get anything going -- Chicago opened the frame with six hits and a sacrifice fly, scoring five times off Tropeano. The Angels' defense didn't help, as first baseman Cron mishandled a bunt and left fielder Shane Victorino made a poor throw home on the sac fly, allowing baserunners on first and second to tag up and advance into scoring position.

"On the defensive side, there's no doubt that we added fuel to the fire in that inning with a couple of things," Scioscia said. "Shane in left field, who's a really good outfielder, just airmailed a cutoff man and really had no play at home, which let two guys move up. And the bunt with two strikes where we couldn't get an out hurt also."

LAROCHE BREAKS LOOSE

Entering Thursday's series finale, LaRoche had five hits in August and one home run over the last two months. LaRoche posted his first multi-hit game of August and also homered for just the second time in his last 43 games.

"It seems to be throughout my career that I always go back, revert back to what has worked," LaRoche said. "That's what I've stuck with lately and today felt a lot better. It would be nice to build off of that. I've had some of these days where I've felt really good and come back out and not have it for a few days. So it's a positive to see some pitches better. I wasn't chasing today."

QUOTABLE

"We left too many balls over the middle of the plate; that was the bottom line. They're a great hitting team, but they capitalize on mistakes, and we made a bunch of them tonight. And the balls that got hit hard were all pitches over the center of the plate." -- Iannetta, on the White Sox offense Thursday

"Maybe the collars. South Side Hitmen showed up or something." -- Ventura joking about the White Sox announcement of the Throwback Thursday jersey announcement coinciding with the offensive breakout

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

With runners on first and third and three White Sox runs already home in the top of the fifth inning, Abreu turned on an 83-mph changeup from Tropeano and ripped a line drive down the left-field line. Third-base umpire Dana DeMuth initially called the ball foul, but Chicago challenged, and replays showed the ball hitting the foul line. The call was overturned and umpires awarded Abreu a double and judged that both runners would have scored on the hit. The White Sox took a 6-1 lead on the play and knocked Tropeano out of the game.

"Yeah, I think he would have scored," Scioscia said of Saladino, the runner on first. "He was running on the pitch and I think that from where he was when the ball was hit, he was gonna score. I didn't really take exception to that."

WHAT'S NEXT

White Sox: Chris Sale makes his first trip to the mound since matching a career-high by striking out 15 and allowing one hit to the Cubs over seven innings in a home victory on Sunday. Sale is 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA over his last two starts and will be making his 12th road start.

Angels: Left-hander Hector Santiago starts Friday's series opener against the Blue Jays at Angel Stadium, the first of three big games between the two American League Wild Card leaders. Santiago bounced back from his rockiest stretch of the season, four starts in which he posted a 5.91 ERA, to hold the AL-best Royals to two runs over seven innings his last time out.

Soto's bunt, replay review spark breakthrough White Sox finally manufacture runs to back Quintana By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | 2:12 AM ET

ANAHEIM -- Although nothing official has ever been announced, there are times where it seems almost illegal for the White Sox offense to string a few hits together when Jose Quintana is on the mound.

That ban was temporarily lifted during a five-run, six-hit fifth inning in Thursday's 8-2 White Sox victory over the Angels, ending the South Siders' seven-game road losing streak and avoiding a four-game sweep at Angel Stadium. And what might be the biggest hit in the inning, a Geovany Soto bunt, traveled the shortest distance.

It also came under an interesting set of circumstances. Adam LaRoche and Alexei Ramirez opened the frame with singles off of Nick Tropeano, who then fell behind in the count to Soto at 2-1. Manager Robin Ventura put the hit and run on at that point, only to have Soto foul off the fastball.

With the infield dropping back on two strikes, Soto pushed a bunt toward first baseman C.J. Cron and ended up beating it out for a single. The bases were loaded, and the scoring was about to begin.

"I just wanted to make sure that I get those guys over," Soto said. "It's a pitch in the zone that I could just tap and put it in play. That was all I was worried about to move the runners. I ended up getting on with nobody out and bases loaded. That was really good."

"The last few days, it's been difficult getting guys on third base. You start forcing guys moving around," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura of the unorthodox call. "Knowing Geo can bunt, it turns out being a hit you weren't expecting. He did a nice job, they move back with two strikes and you trust he can get that down."

Carlos Sanchez (single), Adam Eaton (sacrifice fly) and Tyler Saladino (single) all picked up RBIs, but Jose Abreu won the honors for strangest hit of the inning. With two men on, he lined a 3-2 changeup down the left field line originally ruled foul by third-base umpire Dana DeMuth. Ventura immediately challenged the call, and replay clearly showed that the ball hit the line and kicked up some chalk to lead to an overturn.

Since Saladino was running from first, two runners were allowed to score and Abreu had his second and third RBIs of the night on the double.

"If I wasn't able to race to second base, they'd have to fire me," said a laughing Abreu through interpreter and White Sox Spanish language broadcaster Billy Russo.

"You can get to a point where you feel like you're not getting a break here and there," Ventura said. "That's part of having replay: You can actually take a look at it. It's a pretty big play that's overturned and goes your way."

Big enough to give Quintana a much-deserved win and the White Sox some momentum going into Seattle.

"Finally it was a good inning for us," Abreu said. "That was the breaking point in the game."

"We haven't had a bunch of those. We are always searching for that," said LaRoche of the five-run fifth. "We haven't been able to put a big one together and tonight we did."

Hahn won't discuss future during season White Sox GM tables staffing decisions until '15 campaign plays out By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | August 20th, 2015

ANAHEIM -- Rick Hahn was more than willing to talk about the present state of the 2015 White Sox during his chat with the media prior to Thursday's series finale at Angel Stadium. It marked the sixth or seventh interview session in which the general manager had to address the team's predictable unpredictability.

But where the future of the White Sox is concerned, and how the future could be influenced by this disappointing season, Hahn basically tabled answers to those particular questions until this campaign fully plays out.

"Any questions on the staff, myself, others, everyone, that's all in the future," Hahn said. "We're focused on the here and now and winning tonight's game. Anything in terms of personnel changes, players, staff, coaches, front office, whatever, will wait for the offseason."

Hahn was responding to a question concerning White Sox manager Robin Ventura and his coaching staff, who have the 2016 season left on their respective contracts. While Hahn put off any evaluation with 44 games to be played, he answered with "absolutely" when asked if he continued to be satisfied with the preparation and leadership from this coaching crew.

Satisfaction, though, doesn't completely hide disappointment with a team sitting eight under .500 entering Thursday's contest.

"Look, I think we're all disappointed, Robin included, about where we sit right now," Hahn said. "We're going to have to go in the offseason and evaluate everyone in terms of are we putting ourselves in the best position to succeed?

"I will say that if we felt it made sense to make a change, we would have made a change in any position whether it's a player on the field, the staff or the manager. So obviously that can happen, and going forward we'll have to wait for the offseason and evaluate all of us."

In regard to the current state of the White Sox, who are 6-13 since winning seven straight in Cleveland and Boston, Hahn had to go back to the 2003 season to find a team with the same frustration level. That group was in first place as late as Sept. 10, with Bartolo Colon, Esteban Loaiza and Mark Buehrle at the top of the rotation, and felt they could do some damage if they just made the playoffs.

Any damage done to Hahn's psyche or state of mind by this present, hard-to-figure squad also falls for the most part under the general manager's end-of-season conversation.

"I'm not too different in a lot of ways from any other fan in that the ups and downs and the unmet expectations are extremely frustrating and difficult to stomach," Hahn said. "In other ways I'm able to benefit from the fact I'm able to have conversations with staff or players or scouts to try to do something about it. But it's no doubt been a grind and tough on all of us.

"We all entered this year with high hopes and high expectations and, to date, we have not met them yet. There's still time to potentially meet them so that's why we wait to the end of the year to do a state of my psychosis."

Players hope retro jerseys are comfortable Infamous pullover jerseys, sans shorts, to be worn on throwback night By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | August 20th, 2015

ANAHEIM -- When Ed Farmer was a visiting player with the Texas Rangers in 1979, he remembers looking at the White Sox blue and white V-neck jerseys and thinking "they were the ugliest uniforms I've ever seen."

"Two weeks later, I was going 'Do you tuck this in?'" said a smiling Farmer, who currently is the White Sox radio play-by-play announcer, but wore this particular jersey from 1979-81 as part of the South Siders, after he was traded by the Rangers.

This innovative team look -- pullover jerseys worn pajama style outside the pants with navy shorts -- began in 1976, but will be celebrated Aug. 27 in a game at U.S. Cellular Field between the White Sox and Mariners. The team will not go with the shorts on Throwback Thursday, but they will wear the collared jerseys untucked with pants.

Famer acknowledged that those uniforms were extremely comfortable. Trayce Thompson, a rookie on the current roster, has viewed those jerseys while watching MLB Network over the years.

"I don't know if it was the best or worst jerseys," a smiling Thompson said. "I've just seen them on that segment from MLB Network. They are definitely interesting. I'm sure they won't look great, but if they are comfortable, then why not."

Thompson agreed with the decision to go with pants instead of shorts, adding that he thinks of softball players, not baseball players, when he sees shorts on the field.

"It would be pretty funny," Thompson said. "It would feel like "Semi-Pro," almost, with Will Ferrell and Jackie Moon."

In addition to the throwback uniforms, fans will see retro elements throughout the ballpark, including signage, video highlights and photos from the era the uniforms were worn. Fans can share their favorite White Sox moments by using the hashtag #SoxTBT.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura liked the idea of the uniforms. He also wanted to see current production to match that of the 1977 squad known as the South Side Hitmen, who wore these jerseys.

Worth noting

• Dayan Viciedo is hitting .304 with a .351 on-base percentage and .435 slugging over 17 games for Triple-A Charlotte, since rejoining the White Sox. But this familiar face still might not be a part of September callups being discussed by the organization.

"I'm not going to rule anybody in or out at this point," said White Sox general manager Rick Hahn of Viciedo. "We knew him, we had a couple of guys up here at the time --- Trayce was up here, Leury [Garcia] was up here, we had Shucky down and Boni down and we were familiar with him and needed someone at Charlotte. Familiar face, good to have him back."

• Hahn stated that they don't need to see Tyler Saladino play shortstop this season to know he can handle the spot.

"It was more of a question could he play third, because he only had done it for a handful of times in the system," Hahn said.

Sale rides hot streak into start vs. Mariners By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | August 20th, 2015

Take White Sox ace Chris Sale, add in Seattle ace Felix Hernandez and what do you have? Two of the game's top starting pitchers opposing each other Friday night at Safeco Field in the series opener of a three-game set.

"As a fan, you can think of that and realize what you're seeing as pitchers: Two incredible guys really in our game today," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.. "It's not very often they match up at the same time.

"Once the season starts, you're just fortunate when the game gets to see it. I don't know if each of the lineups likes it, but I think as a baseball fan, you enjoy seeing those, and I know players enjoy that as well when they get to see those."

Sale matched a career-high with 15 strikeouts over seven innings, while allowing one hit, in his last start against the Cubs. He is 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA over his last two starts.

Hernandez, who won the AL Cy Young in '10 and finished one spot ahead of Sale, in second, for the award in '14, is coming off of a rare debacle where he allowed 10 runs on 12 hits over 2 1/3 innings to the Red Sox.

Things to know about this game

• The White Sox are 14-7 against the AL West.

• Sale is 3-0 with a 2.41 ERA lifetime against the Mariners. Hernandez is 4-5 with a 3.67 ERA vs. the White Sox.

• Since 2010, the White Sox are 30-11 against the Mariners and 12-7 at Safeco.

White Sox to wear business-y collared throwback unis Michael Clair, MLB.com – Cut4 | August 20, 2015

Have you ever been looking through your closet, hoping to put on some baseball gear, when you realize, "Oh wait. I've got that big meeting today. Ugh, and then I've got to go to the country club and meet the significant other's family? Guess I'd better put on a shirt with a collar."

Well, thanks to the White Sox, you're in luck. On Aug. 27, the White Sox will be wearing their famous throwback collar pullovers from 1976. Though they wore shorts with this look a few times, they won't be bringing those back -- probably because it really hurts to slide with them on.

Harold Baines certainly wasn't a fan: “It was the most comfortable – not the prettiest – uniform I ever wore... I’m just glad I didn’t have to wear the shorts!” - Harold Baines

Said then-owner Bill Veeck when the uniforms were first unveiled: "The White Sox are not going to be dressed like a bunch of peacocks. There is a difference between color and elegance… between style and class. You will be awed…Comiskey Park will replace Paris and New York as the fashion center of the World."

I mean, I can't tell the difference between the White Sox and a fashion show. Can you? (Hint: Look for the guy with a banana on his shirt)

Here's what the shirts are going to look like this year: http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2015/08/20/144314140

See? Perfect for the office, golf course, cocktail parties and, if you're willing, weddings. You can find the upscale look in the MLB.com shop.

White Sox finally give Jose Quintana some run support in 8-2 victory Curtis Zupke, Chicago Tribune | August 20, 2015

All it took was one huge inning for the White Sox to end three frustrating nights in Southern California and finally reward their pitcher.

The Sox obliged starter Jose Quintana with a five-run fifth inning for a 8-2 victory Thursday against the Angels to end a seven-game road losing streak.

All week long the Sox couldn't cash in solid pitching performances from Carlos Rodon, John Danks and Jeff Samardzija but broke out for Quintana, one of their bright stars on staff for which the record doesn't reflect its prowess because of little run support.

Sox manager Robin Ventura reverted back to the batting order that was last seen scoring runs and beating the Cubs, and it delivered more runs than the Sox scored in the previous three games combined.

Jose Abreu went back to his No. 3 spot and drove in three runs, and the 1-2-3 hitters went 5-for-12.

It didn't hurt that the Angels gave Triple-A call-up Nick Tropeano the start. The Sox got to him with four straight singles to start the fifth. Two batters later Tyler Saladino singled to make it 4-1.

Abreu doubled down the left field line for two more runs on a ball that initially was ruled foul when it bounced on the line but the call was overturned on review.

Quintana got out of bases-loaded jam in the third after a four-pitch walk to Albert Pujols and went on to record his 19th quality start this season.

For the first three games of the series the Sox hardly looked like the team that swept the Angels last week. They went 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position and grounded into five double plays.

On Thursday the offense spilled over in the eighth when Adam LaRoche hit a two-run home run - the Sox only one of the four-game series — and LaRoche's first mutil-hit game of August.

Waiting game: Sox general manager Rick Hahn had a pained expression when asked what this season has been like for him.

"Let's wait another six weeks and I'll answer that," Hahn said.

Hahn got serious and acknowledged a 2015 that has veered from plans, specifically some high-priced acquisitions not panning out and an inconsistent offense that left the Sox eight games below .500 going into Thursday's series finale against the Angels.

"In a lot of ways I'm not too different from any other fan in that the ups and downs and the unmet expectations are extremely frustrating and difficult to stomach," Hahn said.

"It no doubt has been a grind and tough on all of us. We all entered this year with high hopes and high expectations and, to date, we have not met them."

Hahn wouldn't address any personnel decisions and said that evaluation will be done in the offseason. That included manager Robin Ventura, in his fourth year.

"We're all disappointed — Robin included — about where we sit right now, and we're going to have to go into the offseason and evaluate everyone in terms of 'Are we putting ourselves in the best position to succeed?' " Hahn said. "I will say that if we felt it made sense to make a change, we would have made a change, in any position, whether it's a player on the field or staff or the manager. Obviously that didn't happen."

One of Hahn's missteps was Adam LaRoche, who isn't playing regularly after he signed two-year, $25 million contract in the winter. Hahn understands the tough decision Ventura has and what it portends to have LaRoche on board through 2016.

"Given he's part of what we have going on next year, you do want to see him end on a high note, go into the offseason with some confidence and on the upswing," Hahn said. "There's still time for that to happen."

Hahn did well to build the Sox bullpen and pitching and filled other needs, but a sputtering offense has negated that. Ventura concurred it has been a trying season but struck a optimistic tone with six weeks remaining.

"I don't know if there's a rhyme or reason," Ventura said. "But for some reason, people think we fall out of it, you get back into it. Hopefully we're getting into that wave of it and you can ride that for a while and see how that goes. Again, we've seen it in there. It's not like we haven't seen it there, but they can put yesterday behind them pretty good."

Said Hahn of the expectations, "There's still time to potentially meet them but that's why we wait to the end of they year to do a state of my psychosis."

Sale vs. Hernandez: Chris Sale follows up his career-high tying 15-strikeout game with a juicy matchup against the Mariners' former Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez on Friday.

John Danks' eyes widened when asked how closely he will be watching.

"More than anything (I'll be) just a fan of the game," Danks said. "It's something I'm certainly looking forward to. I expect it to be a quick game."

Retro uniforms: The Sox will wear collared, V-neck jerseys from 1976 next week for Throwback Thursday against the Mariners at U.S. Cellular Field. They will not wear the infamous shorts from that era, though, which was a relief to the players.

"It would be pretty funny," rookie Trayce Thompson said. "It would feel (like the movie) "Semi-Pro" almost, with Will Ferrell and Jackie Moon."

The "pajama-style" uniforms were worn from 1976-1981 and included navy shorts for three games in 1976, a first for a major-league team. The Sox will wear the jerseys untucked and with pants.

Chicago Tribune's Colleen Kane contributed.

Thursday's recap: White Sox 8, Angels 2 Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune | August 21, 2015

Five-run fifth inning propelled the White Sox to an 8-2 lead over the Angels on Thursday night at Angel Stadium. Carlos Sanchez, Adam Eaton, Tyler Saladino and Jose Abreu all recorded RBIs in the inning to help drive Angels right-hander Nick Tropeano from the game as the Sox tried to avoid a four-game series sweep.

Turning point

During the fifth inning, Abreu’s liner down the left-field line originally was ruled foul, but a review overturned that call for a double, and the umpires allowed the runners on third and first to score.

Pivotal plays

Sox left-hander Jose Quintana loaded the bases in the third on a single and two walks but induced a grounder to escape with a scoreless inning.

On the mound

Over six innings, Quintana gave up an RBI double to Mike Trout in the first and an RBI single to Albert Pujols in the fifth.

Key number

2 – Home runs from Adam LaRoche since June 25, a two-run shot in the eighth Thursday and a solo homer on Aug. 7.

The quote

“All my run support -- I’m really excited for that. I’m trying to focus on my next start, but tonight guys did a nice job.” --Quintana

The quote 2

“It’s nice to get moving in that direction and get that one. If anything’s a psychological lift, that one is.” –Ventura on LaRoche’s homer

Up next

At Mariners, 9:10 p.m. Friday, CSN.

As rumors resurface, White Sox's Ken Williams says he's focused on the now Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune | August 20, 2015

Rumors resurfaced this week that White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams could be a candidate to fill front-office positions with the Mariners and Blue Jays entering next season.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale floated the potential connections in a story about the unstable nature of general managers positions over the last year.

Williams didn’t want to talk about such a potential change Thursday, indicating he was focused on the Sox.

“The only thing in my future is a 9:05 p.m. game against the Angels tonight in Anaheim and the start of 10 straight wins and a playoff spot,” Williams wrote to the Tribune an email.

The Blue Jays were interested in Williams in the offseason but were not granted permission to interview him as Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf stated it wasn’t the right time for such a move. Williams said he understood the decision but also made known his desire to one day move up to a title such as CEO of a major-league franchise.

Williams’ statement Thursday echoed similar sentiments about focusing on the Sox during spring training, but the club is in a much different place than they expected to be then after an offseason that included the additions of Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche, Jeff Samardzija and David Robertson.

A 10-game winning streak is about what it would take for the Sox to be considered in the American League wild-card race again. After three straight losses, they enter Thursday’s game in Anaheim seven games back from the Angels, who are in the second wild-card spot. But they do play their next 10 games against the Mariners and Red Sox, who sit behind them in the wild-card standings.

Williams said in March the best thing he can do is focus on trying to win.

"I'll just continue to keep my head down and do what I do to the best of our ability,” he said. “A funny thing happens when you win, and you win as a team, win as a group, and good things seem to happen for everyone. So I'll continue to focus on that. I can't worry about something that I have no control over."

White Sox to wear collared jerseys -- but not shorts -- for Throwback Thursday Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune | August 20, 2015

The White Sox will wear collared, 1970s-era jerseys as part of their Throwback Thursday promotion against the Mariners next week at U.S. Cellular Field.

The Sox first introduced the “pajama style” jerseys in 1976 and wore them through 1981. They also paired them with now-infamous navy shorts in three games in 1976, the only time a major-league team has worn shorts.

Upon the uniforms’ introduction at a news conference former Sox owner Bill Veeck said, “You will be awed. … Comiskey Park will replace Paris and New York as the fashion center of the World.”

The Sox will not wear shorts Aug. 27, but will wear the jerseys untucked with pants, the club said in a release. The Sox will also showcase retro photos and video as part of the Throwback Thursday promotion.

“This uniform was the ugliest I have ever worn, but it also was the most comfortable I have ever worn,” Sox broadcaster Ed Farmer said in the release.

Up next: White Sox at Mariners Chicago Tribune | August 20, 2015

All games on WSCR-AM 670.

Season series: Mariners 4-3 in 2014.

Friday: 9:10 p.m., CSN.

LH Chris Sale (11-7, 3.32) vs. RH Felix Hernandez (14-7, 3.65).

Saturday: 8:10 p.m., WGN-9.

LH Carlos Rodon (5-5, 4.42) vs. LH Vidal Nuno (0-2,

3.14).

Sunday: 3:10 p.m., CSN.

LH John Danks (6-10, 4.61) vs. RH Taijuan Walker (8-7, 4.60).

Who's hot: Carlos Sanchez was 7-for-18 with three doubles and a stolen base in his last six games entering Thursday. Sale has allowed two runs on six hits with 22 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings over his last two starts. Ketel Marte was hitting .391 with four doubles and three runs scored over his last six games. Robinson Cano was hitting .333 with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs in his last six games.

Who's not: Adam LaRoche entered Thursday hitting .160 with three extra-base hits, four RBIs and 25 strikeouts over his previous 23 games. Tyler Flowers was 1-for-14 with six strikeouts in his last six games. Hernandez allowed 10 earned runs on 12 hits in 2 1/3 innings in his last start against the Red Sox.

White Sox defeat Angels to avoid four-game sweep Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun Times | August 20, 2015

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Jose Abreu returned to batting third after four days in the 2-hole second Thursday, and things fell into place nicely for the White Sox slugger. Abreu drove in three runs to help the Sox defeat the Los Angeles Angels 8-2 to salvage a win after losing the first three in a four-game series.

“Yeah, you know, we don’t score that many runs,’’ said manager Robin Ventura, who put Tyler Saladino back to second as he desperately looks for a mix for a team that ranks last in the American League in runs. “We can mix it up and see what happens there. This is more the lineup we had when we were scoring a few.

“Guys swung the bats tonight right out of the gate with Adam [Eaton] hitting a double and getting on the board. Just a nice job of going to the plate and making stuff happen.”

Eaton led off against right-hander Nick Tropeano (1-2) with a double, was bunted to third by Saladino and scored on Abreu’s grounder to short. Abreu doubled in two runs in the Sox’ five-run fifth but needed a replay to prove his ball was fair. The RBI hiked Abreu’s total to 26 in his last 28 games.

Sox lefty Jose Quintana (7-10, 3.60) held the Angels to two runs over six innings as the Sox (56-63) snapped a seven-game road losing streak. Quintana is second in the American League with 19 quality starts.

Nate Jones “feeling locked in”

For all the crud creeping through the cracks of this disappointing season, one second half bright spot is the healthy return of right-hander Nate Jones, who as recently as last spring was considered closer material.

Jones’ bounce-back from a hip problem and Tommy John surgery has been encouraging, and he added a fifth scoreless outing covering the seventh inning Thursday. In 5 1/3 innings, Jones has allowed one hit, one walks and has eight strikeouts.

“It’s awesome to see him having the success he is right away,’’ said right-hander Petricka, who had Tommy John a year out of high school. “He looks back. And time will help him get better.”

Jones, who is averaging 98 mph on his fastball and 91 on his slider according to BrooksBaseball, has been used only during the eighth inning.

“It makes all the hard work and rehab worth it,” Jones said of manager Robin Ventura having immediate trust in him. “But it doesn’t matter what the situation is. I’m ready from the fifth inning on.

“I feel pretty locked in right now, but you can always fine tune your stuff and command and work on getting better.”

Adam LaRoche sighting

Adam LaRoche played first base and had two hits, including his 11th homer with a runner on against Cam Bedrosian to give the Sox an 8-2 lead in the eighth inning. It was LaRoche’s second multi-hit game since July 9.

“He got that hit first and popped one there to really break it open,” Ventura said. “It’s nice to get moving in that direction and get that one. If anything is a psychological lift that one is.”

Eaton, Saladino and catcher Geovany Soto also had two hits apiece for the Sox, who scored four runs in the first three games of the series.

“It would be nice to build off of that,” LaRoche said. “I’ve had some of these days where I’ve felt really good and come back out and not have it for a few days. So it’s a positive to see some pitches better. I wasn’t chasing today.”

Rodon can’t believe what he just saw

When Carlos Rodon was shown a photo of Goose Gossage pitching in shorts, the 22-year-old lefthander did a double take.

“Oh. My. Gosh,” Rodon said. “They really wore that? That’s crazy.”

Rodon is scheduled to face the Seattle Mariners when the Sox wear the collared blue and white V-neck jerseys first worn in 1976 on “Throwback Thursday” next week at U.S. Cellular Field. The radical uniforms featuring pullover jerseys with navy shorts created quite a stir back then, and needless to say, Rodon is relieved the shorts will be kept in storage.

Those shorts were worn only three times in 1976. The jerseys were worn from 1976-81, covering the South Side Hit Men era.

“The White Sox are not going to be dressed like a bunch of peacocks,” former owner Bill Veeck said at a press conference to introduce the uniforms in 1976. “There is a difference between color and elegance… between style and class. You will be awed…Comiskey Park will replace Paris and New York as the fashion center of the World.”

Rodon likes modeling retro uniforms, and he approves of the 1970s outfits – sans the shorts.

“Oh yeah, I think that’s cool,’’ he said.

Rookie Trayce Thompson didn’t seem as keen on these throwbacks as Rodon. Told that broadcaster, who wore them when he pitched, said they’re the most comfortable he’s played in, Thompson said, “Well, there you go. Ed’s been around the game for a long time. I’m sure they won’t look great. But if they are comfortable then why not?”

On deck

9:10, CSN, 670-AM, 1200-AM

Chris Sale (11-7, 3.32) vs. Felix Hernandez (11-7, 3.65)

Saturday, 8:10, Ch. 9, 670-AM, 1200-AM

Carlos Rodon (5-5, 4.42) vs. Vidal Nuno (0-1, 3.67)

Sunday, 3:10, CSN, 670-AM, 1200-AM

John Danks (6-10, 4.61) vs. Taijuan Walker (8-7, 4.60)

Former MLB manager says Chris Sale is dominant but inconsistent David Just, Chicago Sun Times | August 21, 2015

White Sox ace Chris Sale has posted some incredible numbers this season, including a league-leading 208 strikeouts.

He joined Hall of Fame company in June by becoming just the third pitcher since 1900 to strike out 12 batters in five straight starts. He also went eight straight starts with 10 or more strikeouts.

His four consecutive All-Star seasons have helped solidify his status as the most dominant pitcher in the American League.

“He’s one of the best pitchers but he’s most definitely the most dominant pitcher in the American League,” former Mariners and Indians manager Eric Wedge said Thursday night on ESPN. “And when you look at his overall stuff from the left side, the breaking ball is electric, the fastball takes off. He has that changeup that he throws very hard but works very well off his fastball. He’s the most dominant pitcher in the American League.”

If there’s one flaw in Sale’s career, Wedge said, it’s that he hasn’t had the opportunity to pitch in postseason games or even meaningful games late in the season. And, as a result, he’s been inconsistent.

“He can’t control whether or not they’re a winning club,” Wedge said. “He can participate and help them be better but he just hasn’t been in position to pitch meaningful games late in the season. And I think because of that he’s been somewhat inconsistent over the course of the season from time to time. Until he gets to the point he’s pitching meaningful games in August and September and doing it regularly, I think that’s what he’s missing.”

Sale has, indeed, been inconsistent this season. His dominant run in the middle of the year was bookended by several poor starts. He gave up nine runs — eight earned — against the Twins on April 30 and then gave up five runs in his next start against the Tigers. Sale also gave up seven runs in back-to-back starts against the Rays and Red Sox earlier this month.

Sale’s most recent start, though, was one of the best of his career. He struck out 15 Cubs hitters in seven innings while allowing just one hit.

White Sox GM Rick Hahn on 2015: Tough to stomach Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun Times | August 20, 2015

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Rick Hahn feels your pain, White Sox fan.

“In a lot of ways I’m not too different from any other fan in that the ups and downs and the unmet expectations are extremely frustrating and difficult to stomach,’’ he said before the Sox tried to salvage the last of a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels late Thursday night.

In other ways, Hahn says he has the benefit of trying to do something about getting the franchise back on the rails after seeing his splashy moves in the offseason get the Sox nowhere. They went into Thursday’s game at 55-63, ranking last in the American League in runs scored and sucking air trying to get into an almost unattainable wild card picture.

“It’s no doubt been a grind and tough on all of us,’’ Hahn said when asked about his personal mental state after experiencing the high of being the star at the winter meetings and something of a goat two months into the season. “We all entered this year with high hopes and high expectations and to date we have not met them yet. There’s still time to potentially meet them but that’s why we wait to the end of the year to do a state of my psychosis.’’

Just last week, the Sox were sweeping the Angels. This week they were in jeopardy of being swept by the same team. It’s been that kind of maddening year.

“It’s been emblematic of our season in terms of up and down, showing nice spurts and signs of life and consistency in certain areas and then not being able to maintain it,’’ Hahn said.

While the last month and half may yet factor into offseason decisions, manager Robin Ventura and most of his staff, who have another year left on their contracts, for the most part appear to be safe. Ventura is known to have the backing of chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, and Hahn has voiced support as well. When asked about Ventura Thursday, Hahn seemed to be saying the manager, like everyone else – players included – need to be better. He also said he hasn’t been bad enough to be replaced.

“Look, I think we’re all disappointed, Robin included about where we sit right now and we’re going to have to go in the offseason and evaluate everyone in terms of are we putting ourselves in the best position to succeed,’’ Hahn said. “If we felt it made sense to make a change we would have made a change in any position whether it’s a player on the field, the staff or the manager. So obviously that can happen and going forward we’ll have to wait for the offseason and evaluate all of us.’’

Hahn is more than satisfied that Ventura has kept the focus in the clubhouse on winning that day’s game “and doing everything in their power to put us in the best position to help us win.’’

“Any questions on the staff, myself, others, everyone, that’s all in the future,’’ Hahn said. “We’re focused on the here and now and winning tonight’s game. Anything in terms of personnel changes, players, staff, coaches, front office, whatever, will wait for the offseason.’’

While the trade for Jeff Samardzija and free-agent signings of Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche and David Robertson last offseason seemed to patch up most every need on the roster, the team’s failures exposed weakness on the 25-man unit as well as a thin farm system that couldn’t come to the rescue, especially with high-impact position players.

Perhaps Hahn will be moved to part with a key piece of his pitching rotation this offseason. Stay tuned.

“The strength of the system is obviously pitching and at the big league level,’’ Hahn said. “Knock on wood, over the course of the first five months of the season, most of our issues have been on the offensive side of things. Come the offseason it may be something we have to look at as sort of reallocating some of those assets to address player position needs.’’

White Sox will wear 1976 ‘pajamas’ for throwback game Dan Cahill, Chicago Sun Times | August 20, 2015

Some called them pajamas, others thought they looked like beer-league softball uniforms. Either way, the White Sox are bringing back their 1976 collared jerseys for a “Throwback Thursday” game against the Mariners on Aug. 27.

Fitting, considering the White Sox started the whole throwback thing 25 years ago.

In a statement, the White Sox wrote:

The 1976 White Sox introduced one of baseball’s most innovative team looks – pull-over jerseys worn pajama style outside the trousers with accompanying navy shorts. It was the first and only time a baseball team has worn shorts in a major league game. While the team will not sport the shorts on “Throwback Thursday,” they will wear the collared jerseys untucked with pants.

Eclectic owner Bill Veeck introduced the radical look.

“The White Sox are not going to be dressed like a bunch of peacocks,” said former White Sox owner Bill Veeck at a press conference to introduce the uniforms in 1976. “There is a difference between color and elegance… between style and class. You will be awed…Comiskey Park will replace Paris and New York as the fashion center of the World.”

Not everyone saw it that way. Current radio broadcaster Ed Farmer was one of the players who had the chance to model the outlandish apparel in a game.

“This uniform was the ugliest I have ever worn, but it also was the most comfortable I have ever worn,” Famer said.

Chris Widger offers insights into 2005 White Sox season during reddit Q&A David Just, Chicago Sun Times | August 20, 2015

Former White Sox catcher Chris Widger, who was a member of the 2005 World Series team, answered questions Thursday as part of a reddit “AMA” — ask me anything.

Widger, now the manager of the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic Baseball League, played 10 major league seasons for six different clubs. He was with the Sox for part of the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

Fans peppered him with questions about his playing days, including some interesting insights into the 2005 team. Take a look:

Chris Sale simply a swing-and-miss, dominating machine Jayson Stark, ESPN.com | August 21, 2015

He's more than just the best active starting pitcher who has never won a Cy Young Award. He's the winner of the Holy Crap I Never Want to Face That Guy competition.

He's Chris Sale, way-too-underappreciated ace of those Chicago White Sox. And I'm about to prove exactly how good he really is -- and how little the hitters of North America look forward to facing him.

All it takes is numbers to document that there's no more unhittable starter on earth with zero Cy Young trophies. And I'll be happy to unfurl all of those numbers for you, just to get you ready for Sale's marquee, stud-versus-stud matchup Friday night against Felix Hernandez.

But the second part of this exercise is way more fun. You just have to mention this dude's name to the hitters who have to hit against him. The look on their faces takes it from there.

Chris Sale has made 23 starts, and he leads the American League with 208 strikeouts. AP Photo/Alex Gallardo

It's pretty much the same look you see on the videos of crazy people trying to outrun the bulls in Pamplona. Those same wide eyeballs. That same flush in their cheeks. That same palpitational expression as they realize that ohhhhh no, this isn't going to end well.

"He's that guy who, [when] you see he's pitching, all of a sudden your hamstring gets tight or something," Minnesota's Brian Dozier says of Sale. "You don't know if you can make it that game."

"I try to save up any sick days or off days I have, and use them when he's starting," says Cleveland's Jason Kipnis. "I've timed it up perfectly, I think, since 2013. If I had an off day coming up, I'd push it back a week until we were playing the White Sox and use it on him. I play dodgeball with him. You know that old thing: 'How's your back?' 'Hmmm, it's tight

today -- the weather must be getting to me.' Or it's the old Rodney Dangerfield thing: 'Wait. My arm. Yeah, it's my arm.' That's how I feel when I know he's pitching."

"Go ask every hitter who the top five pitchers in baseball are, and I guarantee every one of them will mention him," Philadelphia's Jeff Francoeur says of Sale. "If they don't, it means they never faced him."

Ah, but 437 active big-league hitters have had that thrill of facing him. Let's just say it hasn't gone well. They're hitting a combined .224 (which works out to the approximate lifetime average of Tuffy Rhodes) -- with nearly 300 more strikeouts (945) than hits (679).

So I thought it would be kind of entertaining to ask some of those men how they'd describe the joys of hitting against Sale. And to make them feel better, I'll sprinkle in all the facts it ought to take to convince them that A) pretty much every hitter alive feels their pain and B) if they've been under the impression he's been particularly untouchable this season, well, they're right. Now here we go.

What a career

Can we all just agree that Clayton Kershaw is the pre-eminent starting pitcher in the sport? Thank you. I appreciate that. But who ranks right behind him? I acknowledge there are superlative arguments for Felix Hernandez, or Adam Wainwright, or Madison Bumgarner, or David Price, or a few others. But the correct answer is ...

Chris Sale. Of course.

Who's No. 1 among all active starters in WHIP (with a cutoff of 800 career innings pitched)? Kershaw naturally, at 1.04. But who's an incredibly close No. 2? That would be Sale, at 1.06.

Now ... who's No. 1 in Park-Adjusted ERA-Plus? Right. Kershaw, at 152. Anyone want to take a stab at who's No. 2? Yep. It's Sale again, at 142.

Or let's say we look at the OPS of the hitters who face these guys. The active leader? Right. Kershaw (at .577). But guess who's next? Of course you can. It's Sale, at .621.

All right, here's another category. How about Fielding Independent Pitching, which factors out all the parts of pitching that the pitcher can't control (such as the White Sox's often-messy leatherwork)? Who's No. 1? Kershaw yet again, at 2.67. But who's the only other active starter under 3.00? Sale, obviously, at 2.91. See a trend here anywhere?

When we play the strikeout game, we get a slightly different result. Which active starter produces the most swinging and missing? The answer to that one is not Kershaw. He's actually third (at 9.64 strikeouts per nine innings). No. 1? You've got it. That would be Sale (at 10.22), with Max Scherzer (9.71) sandwiched in between.

So ... get the idea? What you have here is basically the AL version of Kershaw, only minus the trophies.

"He and Kershaw are the two left-handers in baseball who can flat out embarrass you," says Francoeur, a proud 3-for-21 lifetime off Sale. "No disrespect to David Price or anyone else. But when you face those two guys, they can make you feel like you never played baseball before."

What a season

And that brings us to this year. Have we properly appreciated what Chris Sale is doing to the finest hitters in our solar system this season? Correct answer: No, we haven't.

We're basically watching a Randy Johnson rerun. You understand that, right? Not since the Unit was at his Cy Young greatest have we seen any starting pitcher stir up as many breezes in the old batter's box as Sale is whipping up this year. Take a look:

• In his overpowering 15-strikeout show against the Cubs on Sunday, Sale induced 28 swings and misses. Yeah, 28. It was his fifth game just this season of 25 whiffs or more. All other AL starters put together have combined for one game of 25-plus (by Carlos Carrasco). So who's the last man to produce five games like that in one season? Yessir, Johnson, in 2002.

• That game was also Sale's 12th start with at least 20 swings and misses. And that would be the most in a season since -- you've got it -- the Big Unit, in 2002 (16 that year). No one else, in all the seasons in between, has even reached double figures.

• If Sale keeps this up, he's on pace to finish the year with 586 swings and misses. Which would be the most since -- guess who? -- Johnson piled up 637 in 2002. The only other AL pitchers who have even reached 500 in any of the 13 seasons since are Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Johan Santana.

"Go ask every hitter who the top five pitchers in baseball are, and I guarantee every one of them will mention [Chris Sale]. If they don't, it means they never faced him."

Jeff Francoeur, Phillies outfielder

No wonder Kipnis says his most memorable at-bat against Sale was one where he experienced the euphoria of, um, technically making contact. Not hard contact. Just any contact.

"The sad part is, the goal was not a hit," the Indians' second baseman laughs. "The goal was to put it in play. And I did. I made it all the way right back to him. I was waiting on one of his 98 two-seamers, and he threw one of his curveballs. I almost shocked myself by just getting the [end of the bat] on it. And I dribbled it right back to him. But I thought, 'Hey, I did my part. I got to run to first base.' So it was a success to me."

The repertoire

What these hitters find especially uplifting is that feeling that Sale can strike them out with every pitch that comes flying out of his hand. And we've discovered why they feel that way: Because he really can.

Among at-bats ending in his fastball this year, 30.7 percent have ended with a strikeout. That's the highest rate of all full-time starters who use their fastball at least as much as he does.

Among at-bats ending in a slider? An absurd 55.0 percent have turned into strikeouts. Yep, 55.0 percent. No other starter in the AL is even at 50 percent.

Sale has piled up 153 swings and misses with his changeup, too. Which ranks second only to Cole Hamels (171) in the entire sport. So there you go. That's 3-for-3 in the domination department. Good luck trying to zone in on a pitch you can actually hit.

The funny thing is, the hitters can't even agree on which of those is his best pitch. Francoeur votes for the fastball -- because "it's 94-95 [miles per hour], and he can tail it or run it away from you. And you don't know which. If you start looking away to try to shoot one the other way, he'll see it, and he'll come in at 94, in on the hands, and just blow you up."

Dozier, meanwhile, says the development of the changeup has propelled Sale to a whole new level, and has combined with the slider to keep hitters off his fastball. Naturally, Jose Altuve says they're both wrong, because it's the slider that comes whooshing at you -- "and then the ball disappears somehow."

In truth, though, none of them have this exactly right -- because it's the devastating mix of all those pitches, and Sale's unpredictability in which of them he throws when, that have produced this hitter's nightmare which unfolds every time he takes the mound.

"You know, I've had some success against him," says Dozier, who is, in fact, a .303 lifetime hitter (10-for-33) against Sale. "And people are like, 'Oh, you see him great.' But no. He's the guy you've had some success against but you never want to face him again.

"He's punched me out plenty of times," Dozier goes on. "But one time, I really thought he'd thrown me a fastball right down the middle, so I swung as if it was a fastball. And after it was over, I thought he broke my right toe. That's how much his slider broke and disappeared. It actually hit my back right foot. Which just goes to show you. I think it's a fastball right down the middle. And it turns out to be a slider that hits me in the leg."

What's left?

There's one piece of good news for Dozier: At least he's right-handed. It's the left-handed-hitting portion of the population that really basks in the good times when Sale is 60 feet, 6 inches away. And here to speak for that left-handed-hitting populace is Prince Fielder.

"For me, it's fun because you've got a built-in excuse," Fielder says of facing Sale. "I'm not really supposed to get a hit off of him. So if you happen to get one, you're like, 'Yep. Nice.' But if you don't, you're like, 'Oh well.' You're not supposed to, you know?'"

Well, he's right about that. Over Sale's career, he has pitched to 769 left-handed hitters. They've combined for 236 strikeouts (31 percent), just 143 hits (a .203 average) and (ready?) exactly three home runs. The last of those three bombs came nearly three years ago -- by Brennan Boesch, on Sept. 2, 2012.

"It seems like righties don't get hits off him, either, though," says Fielder, who is 5-for-28 (.179), with nine punchouts and no homers, off Sale. "So I don't feel too bad. The only time I get mad is if I hit a ball hard off him and someone catches it. ... You're like, 'If I hit a ball hard, it needs to be a hit,' just because it's him. He's tough."

I helpfully suggest to Prince that maybe watching video would help. He laughs so hard, his chest shakes.

"Why would I want to watch him deal?" he asks. "Now what I'll do sometimes is, you can look and see just the hits they've given up all year. ...

"But to watch the hits he's given up?" Fielder says, chuckling heartily again. "Man, that would be quick. I'd have to put it on repeat."

But the old swinging-and-missing reel? That would be the longest-running motion picture since "Lawrence of Arabia." Except you wouldn't catch any hitters watching that one, either -- because they watch it every five days. Every time the most underappreciated starting pitcher in baseball goes out there and air-conditions the ballpark all by himself.

White Sox avoid 4-game sweep with 8-2 win over Angels Associated Press, ESPN.com | August 20, 2015

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Chicago White Sox have had trouble scoring runs in bunches. Against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night, they were finally able to get a big inning and avoided a four-game sweep.

Jose Abreu capped a five-run fifth with a two-run double, getting the benefit of a video replay reversal, and the White Sox ended a seven-game road losing streak with an 8-2 victory.

"We haven't had a bunch of those,"said first baseman Adam LaRoche, who ignited the pivotal inning with a single that ended a 1-for-24 drought and added a two-run homer.

"We're always searching for that kind of inning because it takes the pressure off the pitchers, and it takes a little stress off our manager after all of these one-run and two-run games. Tonight we were able to put a big one together, and that was enough."

Jose Quintana (7-10) allowed two runs and eight hits over six innings and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third. The left-hander struck out three and walked two -- marking the 15th consecutive start in which he gave up fewer than three bases on balls.

"He attacks the zone and keeps the ball down," Soto said. "He knows how to pitch. Despite being as young as he is, he really knows how to do his job and knows how to prepare for a major league game. And he's only going to get better from here."

Minor league callup Nick Tropeano (1-2) gave up six runs and eight hits through 4 1/3 innings in his third spot start of the season, four days after struggling Matt Shoemaker was optioned to Triple-A.

The right-hander retired only one of the seven batters he faced in the fifth, when Chicago snapped a 1-all tie. Until that inning, the White Sox were 1 for 21 in the series with runners in scoring position.

"Obviously, that one big inning kind of hurt me," Tropeano said. "There were a couple of balls up and couple of tough breaks off contact hits. But other than that, I felt good the first four innings. I was getting ahead of hitters and keeping them off balance. I Just fell into some bad counts in that fifth inning."

Alexei Ramirez followed LaRoche's leadoff hit with another single, and a bunt hit by Soto loaded the bases. No. 9 hitter Carlos Sanchez gave Chicago the lead with an RBI single, Adam Eaton hit a sacrifice fly and Tyler Saladino singled home another run.

Abreu, who leads the White Sox with 73 RBI, then lined a ball past third base that appeared to hit the line and was ruled foul by umpire Dana DeMuth. Manager Robin Ventura challenged the call, which was overturned after a video review, and Abreu was awarded a two-run double that made it 6-1.

"It can get to a point where you don't feel like you're getting a break here and there, but that's a part of having replay. You can take a look at it," Ventura said. "It would be a lot different if you weren't able to. This one was overturned, and it went our way."

One inning earlier, the White Sox had a runner at second with one out when Melky Cabrera hit a hard grounder past first baseman C.J. Cron and down the line. Umpire Ed Hickox ruled the ball foul and Ventura came out to argue, but to no avail because that type of play is not reviewable by video replay.

Eaton opened the game with a double and scored on a groundout by Abreu, giving Chicago its first lead in the series after losing the first three games 2-1, 5-3 and 1-0.

"We tried to focus on the positive and on this one, instead of the three previous games. And we're really happy about what we saw today," Soto said.

The Angels responded with a one-out RBI double by Mike Trout, the 22nd first-inning run Quintana has allowed this season and the 88th against the White Sox staff -- the second-highest total in the majors.

The Angels loaded the bases in the third with a two-out single by Kole Calhoun and walks to Trout and Albert Pujols. But Quintana retired Cron on a fielder's choice grounder.

UP NEXT

White Sox: LHP Chris Sale (11-7) faces Mariners ace Felix Hernandez on Friday night at Seattle in the opener of a three-game series. Sale is coming off a 3-1 win over the Cubs in which he pitched seven innings of one-hit ball and tied a career high with 15 strikeouts.

Angels: LHP Hector Santiago (7-6) opposes Toronto's David Price on Friday night in the opener of a three-game set at the "Big A," seeking his first victory since July 20. The first-time All-Star is 0-2 with a 5.08 ERA in his last five starts.

Jose Abreu, Adam LaRoche pace White Sox to win over Halos Dan Hayes, CSN | August 21, 2015

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- It took a few minutes and help from New York but Jose Abreu eventually was rewarded on Thursday night.

Replay officials determined after 140 seconds that Abreu’s liner past third base did in fact strike the left-field line and awarded him with a two-run double. That’s just the kind of night it was as the White Sox offense finally woke up en route to an 8-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. Jose Quintana delivered six strong innings and Abreu drove in three as the White Sox avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the Angels. Adam LaRoche homered in the victory.

“I had my doubts,” Abreu said through an interpreter. “But thanks to (Mike Kashirsky) and the replay crew it was good.

“That was the breaking point in the game for us and we gave Quintana very good run support tonight. Finally it was a good inning for us.”

The White Sox already held a 4-1 advantage when Abreu stepped in with runners on the corners and one out. Abreu worked the count full and smoked an 83-mph changeup from Angels starter Nick Tropeano down the line only for third-base umpire Dana DeMuth to rule it foul. But replays quickly showed the ball hit the chalk and White Sox manager Robin Ventura asked for a review. After 2 minutes, 20 seconds Abreu was awarded second base and both runners scored, including Tyler Saladino all the way from first base because he was running on the pitch, Ventura said.

“It can get to a point where you feel like you’re not getting a break here and there,” Ventura said. “That’s part of having replay, you can actually take a look at it. It’s a pretty big play that’s overturned and goes your way.

“Guys swung the bats tonight right out of the gate with Adam (Eaton) hitting a double and getting on the board. Just a nice job of going to the plate and making stuff happen.”

Abreu’s double was the big blow in a five-run inning that helped the White Sox awake from a week-plus long slumber and break a 1-all tie. They had scored three or fewer runs in seven of their past eight games.

But LaRoche singled through the shift to start the fifth inning ahead of an Alexei Ramirez single. Geovany Soto’s two-strike bunt for a single loaded the bases with no outs and Carlos Sanchez singled in a run to make it 2-1. Shane Victorino inexplicably threw home on Eaton’s sacrifice fly, which allowed one to score and the other runners to move into scoring position. Saladino got an RBI because of Victorino’s miscue as Soto scored from third on a blooper that just fell in to make it 4-1. Abreu, who had an RBI groundout in the first, knocked Tropeano out of the game with some help from his friends in the clubhouse.

The White Sox sent 10 men to the plate in the fifth inning but they weren’t done.

Avisail Garcia doubled off Cam Bedrosian to start the eighth inning and LaRoche crushed a two-run homer to right center to make it 8-2. It was only LaRoche’s second multi-hit game since July 8 and his first of the month.

Quintana enjoyed the abundance of run support.

Whereas he gave back a 1-0 first-inning lead on an RBI double by Mike Trout, Quintana didn’t relinquish the five-run cushion. Albert Pujols singled in run to make it a 6-2 game in the bottom of the fifth but Quintana got C.J. Cron looking to strand a pair of runners.

Quintana allowed two earned runs and eight hits in six innings as he improved to 7-10.

“We haven’t had a bunch of those,” LaRoche said. “We are always searching for that. Take some pressure off the pitchers and takes a little stress off of our manager --- all these one- and two-run games. We haven’t been able to put a bit one together and tonight we did.”

Rick Hahn on White Sox season: 'We're all disappointed' Dan Hayes, CSN | August 20, 2015

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- If the White Sox are to make any changes after what has so far been a frustrating season, they’ll wait until October.

General manager Rick Hahn said Thursday he wouldn’t address any questions about potential staff or front office changes until the offseason, though everyone would be evaluated.

The White Sox haven’t fulfilled their own expectations and the season -- one that had them seven back in the wild-card race as of Wednesday -- has been full of frustration, Hahn said. Hahn made no promises about anyone’s job security when asked about manager Robin Ventura, though he noted that the club would already have made changes had they felt one was needed.

“We’re all disappointed, Robin included, about where we sit right now and we’re going to have to go in the offseason and evaluate everyone in terms of are we putting ourselves in the best position to succeed,” Hahn said. “I will say that if we felt it made sense to make a change we would have made a change in any position whether it’s a player on the field, the staff or the manager. So obviously that can happen and going forward we’ll have to wait for the offseason and evaluate all of us.”

Ventura signed a contract extension before the 2014 season and is believed to have a season left on his deal. Then there’s executive vice president Kenny Williams, who continues to have his name attached to the job soon to be vacated by retiring Toronto Blue Jays president Paul Beeson.

“That’s all in the future,” Hahn said. “We’re focused on the here and now and winning tonight’s game. Anything in terms of personnel changes, players, staff, coaches, front office, whatever will wait for the offseason.”

As for how he has handled the disappointment, Hahn said it hasn’t been easy. The White Sox spent nearly $140 million on free agents last winter and traded for Jeff Samardzija. They’ve struggled all season, never pushing more than one game over the .500 mark.

“In a lot of ways I’m not too different from any other fan in that the ups and downs and the unmet expectations are extremely frustrating and difficult to stomach,” Hahn said. “In other ways I’m able to benefit from the fact I’m able to have conversations with staff or players or scouts to try to do something about it. But it’s no doubt been a grind and tough on all of us. We all entered this year with high hopes and high expectations and to date we have not met them yet. There’s still time to potentially meet them but that’s why we wait to the end of the year to do a state of my psyche.”

White Sox on 1976 jerseys: 'They are definitely interesting' C. Roumeliotis, CSN | August 21, 2015

Earlier this season, the White Sox turned back the clock to 1959 to honor the late great Minnie Minoso with these retro jerseys during their Crosstown Cup series vs. the Cubs.

On Aug. 27 against the Seattle Mariners, they're jumping to 1976 to bring back the ever-so-popular collared blue and white V-neck shirts for #ThrowbackThursday. (See picture below)

And the White Sox aren't sure how to feel about that.

"Just from watching MLB Network the past few years, I don’t know if it’s the best or worst jerseys," Rookie center fielder Trayce Thompson said. "I’ve just seen them on that segment from MLB Network. They are definitely interesting."

The collared shirts may not be the interesting part. The famous 1976 throwbacks also featured shorts, which former White Sox player and current assistant hitting coach said he was "just glad I didn't have to wear" those.

The White Sox won't either. Or will they?

"I don’t know. I highly doubt we will be wearing shorts," Thompson said. "It would be pretty funny. It would feel like Semi-Pro almost, with Will Ferrell and Jackie Moon. It would be pretty funny."

In this era, you rarely see players sporting high socks like they did back then. It's an old tradition, but a new generation. For rookies like Thompson, he's just happy to wear a big-league uniform.

"Yeah, nowadays with the pants, guys and their pants, they have to be perfect for the most part," Thompson said. "Back in the 90s, with the shoes, guys wear the pants over the shoes now. The preferences have gone way up I think. Guys like me and [Tyler Saladino] and [Carlos] Rodon, all the rookies, we just wear what we are given and try not to complain too much.

"I’m sure the starting pitcher have to feel most comfortable, but we are also in the big leagues so I’m going to wear proudly whatever is given to me."

Even though former White Sox pitcher Ed Farmer admitted, like Baines, the 1976 jerseys were "the ugliest I have ever worn," he also said they were "the most comfortable I have ever worn."

And that's good enough for Thompson.

"I’m sure they won’t look great," Thompson said. "But if they are comfortable then why not."

White Sox could deal pitching this winter to solve other issues Dan Hayes, CSN | August 20, 2015

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The White Sox may have to tap into their young pitching cache this offseason to answer other questions.

There’s little debate the White Sox farm system has improved the past three years, going from the bottom of the barrel in 2012 to the middle of the pack earlier this season. But even though they’ve made strides, general manager Rick Hahn knows the organization’s pitching prospects are on a different level than most of its position players. With several potential needs to fill this winter, Hahn said Thursday he would consider trading young arms to help fortify the White Sox roster. That may mean anyone not named Chris Sale could be dangled on the trade market in the upcoming hot stove season.

“Being as objective as we can, the strength of the system is obviously pitching and at the big league level,” Hahn said. “Knock on wood, over the course of the first five months of the season, most of our issues have been on the offensive side of things. Come the offseason it may be something we have to look at as sort of reallocating some of those assets to address player position needs.”

The only positions at which the White Sox seem to be set for 2016 are first base, center field, left field and designated hitter, as Jose Abreu, Adam Eaton, Melky Cabrera and Adam LaRoche are all signed through at least next season.

Beyond that, the White Sox have to figure out how to remedy an offense that has consistently disappointed this season. Shortstop Alexei Ramirez has a $10 million club option with a $1 million buyout that Hahn must decide upon. Tyler Saladino could be an option at short until Tim Anderson is ready if the White Sox move on from Ramirez. The White Sox are likely to continue searching for a long-term answer at catcher and they have to determine whether or not Avisail Garcia is the hitter he’s been in April, May and August or the one who went two months without a homer. They also love Saladino’s glove at third, but unless LaRoche rebounds -- and even if he did -- the White Sox would seem to need a big bat if they field a lineup featuringboth he and Carlos Sanchez. With so much uncertainty only one thing is sure -- the White Sox need to improve offensively.

Despite a recent hot streak, the White Sox have averaged 3.70 runs per game this season and entered Thursday on pace to score 600 runs. Even with the additions of Cabrera and LaRoche, the White Sox have scored three or fewer runs in 64 of 118 contests (54 percent) and are 17-47 in those games.

“I wouldn’t say it’s one particular pitcher,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “It kind of runs the gamut -- left, right, hard, soft.

“We’ve got to find some kind of rhythm to score some guys from third and keep the line moving, and it’s been tough at times. When we went on our run, it just seemed like you just kept seeing balls find a hole. Balls hit hard. This one has just been inconsistent.”

Which brings it back to the one area that is tried and true with the White Sox -- pitching. Back in 2013, the White Sox felt good enough about their stock of arms to trade Hector Santiago in a deal that netted Eaton and Addison Reed for minor leaguer Matt Davidson.

Over the past three seasons they’ve drafted or traded for a number of talented pitchers, many of who are the top prospects in the system. Currently, Carson Fulmer is the No. 2 prospect, Frankie Montas is No. 3 and Spencer Adams is ranked fourth with Tyler Danish coming in at seven, according to MLB.com. And that’s a system that has already graduated Carlos Rodon and has seen a rebound at Triple-A Charlotte from former No. 2 Erik Johnson and feels good about other potential pitchers who don’t have the same notoriety as their top arms.

With so many pitchers close to making an impact in the majors, the White Sox might consider dealing Jose Quintana or Rodon, though that price would likely be extreme as the rookie has six more seasons under team control.

Not that Quintana would come cheap.

Two offseasons ago, Quintana was considered one of four players the White Sox wanted to build around and therefore would have been nearly impossible to acquire. Since then, Quintana -- whose 3.20 Fielding Independent Pitching ranks 23rd among starters this season -- has posted a 3.32 ERA in 200 1/3 innings and also signed a five-year, $26.5-million contract potentially worth $47.5 million -- a deal rated as the 41st best in baseball by fangraphs.com.

Though the prospect of trading any pitching can’t be easy for Hahn to stomach, its likely his only solution to address some of the team’s bigger needs.

Spiegel: If Williams wants to leave Chicago White Sox, the time is right Matt Spiegel, Daily Herald | August 20, 2015

The timing appears right for an era to end. Jerry and Kenny might be ready to separate.

The Toronto Blue Jays wanted to talk to White Sox executive vice president Kenny Williams last December, in hopes of him becoming their next team president. But their timing, and the way in which the initial contact was handled, assured failure.

To refresh, Ed Rogers of the Blue Jays ownership group called Jerry Reinsdorf the day before the 2014 winter meetings and asked for permission to speak to Kenny about replacing Blue Jays president Paul Beeston.

Jerry hung up after the conversation and called his best friend in baseball: that same Paul Beeston. Rogers somehow didn't even know they were close. It was an embarrassing misstep.

Kenny told Jerry at the winter meetings that the Jays already had reached out through an "emissary," a clear incidence of tampering. Another bungle by Toronto, and it further angered Jerry.

In the midst of what was becoming a highly celebrated off-season, Jerry refused permission for Kenny to be interviewed, and the White Sox' front office hit 2015 intact.

The situation has changed vastly, fueled by South Side underachievement, and Toronto's dalliance with Kenny has new life.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale has been in the know on White Sox business for years. He wrote Thursday morning that Kenny is the top candidate to replace Jack Zduriencik in Seattle, if he does not end up in Toronto.

Nightengale wrote it with an assurance that made me pick up the phone.

He joined the Spiegel And Goff Show to share what he could. To synopsize:

• Kenny misses the action of the day-to-day operations and phone calls.

• If asked for permission now, Nightengale believes Jerry would grant it.

• If Kenny left, Jerry still would want an executive buffer between himself and general manager Rick Hahn.

• Robin Ventura assuredly is coming back next season.

• There is zero percent chance of Ozzie Guillen ever managing the White Sox again.

Those last two are sure to draw reaction from Sox fans attached to the day-to-day nature of the game. Ventura often has looked overmatched, and Guillen remains an available, eager emblem of past triumph.

But let's stay on the story at hand: All signs point to Kenny Williams wanting to leave the White Sox for a new challenge.

The time is right for Jerry to let him go.

Hahn has done a lot to change the focus of the organization, spearheading investment and restructuring within the scouting department. Let him continue, now unencumbered, making decisions and deals without running them by his boss first.

The clarity of a long-term plan is what's desperately needed. The piecemeal, year-to-year fiddling to remain competitive has led to so much mediocrity.

The current core and their contracts don't lend themselves to a teardown/rebuild. The starting pitchers are young, cheap, and good, strengthened if Carson Fullmer can join them sometime next year. Jose Abreu is a slugger in his prime, with center field, left field, setup and closer locked into multiyear deals.

But every move could and should be made from a holistic approach, and they should be made by the most forward-thinking in the room.

As for that "executive buffer" Jerry may want between himself and the GM, I don't see the need for it. Let Hahn poach some underlings from successful organizations, filling out a staff to do his bidding. Steal some Cardinals staffers, or some of former Boston GM Ben Cherington's newly available underlings.

It could be that Jerry has someone in mind already. How about the aforementioned old friend Paul Beeston? That'd make for an intriguing episode of MLB Executive Swap.

Either way, let us fully praise what Kenny Williams accomplished here. A World Series trophy is forever. His relentless aggression was often admirable, sometimes successful and always well-intentioned.

But if he's ready to leap, allow it.

• Matt Spiegel co-hosts "The Spiegel & Goff Show" 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday-Friday on WSCR 670-AM. Follow him on Twitter @mattspiegel670.