White Sox Quietly Becoming Contendors with No One Watching

Williams has made up for his lackluster winter, first with some under-the-radar signings to boost the pitching staff and later with a couple of bigger-name trades. In taking Kevin Youkilis off the Red Sox’s hands, Williams filled the White Sox’s biggest holes, at third base and the No. 2 spot in the batting order. Youkilis is hitting only .241, but his on-base percentage is .342 and he’s provided ample power, as seen with Tuesday’s fifth-inning grand slam off Ivan Nova that broke a 2-2 tie and put the White Sox in control.

Tuesday’s winning pitcher was July acquisition Francisco Liriano, who won his second straight start by limiting the Yankees to two runs in six innings. Derek Jeter homered on Liriano’s first pitch of the night. Nick Swisher, the second hitter, also scored in the inning as Liriano struggled with his control. “Trying to be too fine,” he said. “And I overthrew.”

After that inning, though, Liriano settled down, walked only one more and allowed only one more Yankee to reach scoring position.

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