Headlines of July 4, 2015 “Danks backs up comments with strong outing” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Abreu's HR all Danks needs against Orioles” … Scott Merkin and Brittany Ghiroli, MLB.com “White Sox sign first-round pick Fulmer” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Hahn: White Sox have no room for error” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “White Sox make international splash” … Dionisio Soldevila, MLB.com “Sale given extra day of rest, will face Buehrle” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Samardzija takes on Orioles in holiday matinee” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “For White Sox, no time to lose” … Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune “Pedro Martinez rooting for to break record” … Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune “Friday's recap: White Sox 1, Orioles 0” … Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune “White Sox welcome top pick Carson Fulmer aboard” … Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune “Sox' GM Rick Hahn: No rift with Kenny Williams” … Seth Gruen, Chicago Sun Times “White Sox sign first-round pick Carson Fulmer” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun Times “Are in ... or out?” … Scot Gregor, Daily Herald “Fulmer looks forward to getting started with Chicago White Sox” … Scot Gregor, Daily Herald “Danks pulls his weight as Chicago White Sox blank Orioles” … Scot Gregor, Daily Herald “John Danks dandy in win, but can he find consistency?” … Doug Padilla, ESPN.com “Rapid Reaction: White Sox 1, Orioles 0” … Doug Padilla, ESPN.com “Danks, Abreu lead White Sox over Orioles 1-0” … Associated Press, ESPN.com “White Sox sign 'class' first-round pick Carson Fulmer” … Doug Padilla, ESPN.com “White Sox GM Rick Hahn denies conflict with boss Kenny Williams” … Doug Padilla, ESPN.com “White Sox to give Chris Sale an extra day of rest” … Doug Padilla, ESPN.com “After 10-day break, John Danks returns to shut down Orioles” … J.J. Stankevitz, CSN “Extra day of rest sets up Chris Sale vs. Mark Buehrle on Monday” … J.J. Stankevitz, CSN “First-rounder Carson Fulmer gives back after signing with White Sox” … J.J. Stankevitz, CSN “White Sox in no rush to see if Carson Fulmer can be on fast track” … J.J. Stankevitz, CSN “Levine: White Sox On Brink Of Season-Changing Decisions” … Bruce Levine, CBS Chicago Danks backs up comments with strong outing Disappointed in season performance, lefty tosses 7 shutout innings By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | 12:17 AM ET

CHICAGO -- The seven scoreless innings thrown by John Danks during the White Sox 1-0 victory over Baltimore Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field marked the southpaw's first start since June 22 at Minnesota.

With an 0-4 record and 6.85 ERA over four June starts, coupled with last Saturday's postponement in Detroit, the veteran understands why he was bypassed.

"I've pitched my way into being the guy who gets skipped," said Danks, who threw 66 of his 96 pitches for strikes and won the mound battle with Ubaldo Jimenez. "My goal is to be consistent.

"Go out there and work my way into being one of the top guys again. My job is, when I get the ball, to go deep in the game and give us a chance to win. And hopefully this will start a nice little run for me."

Danks struck out five, walked two, allowed five hits and with all due respect to George Costanza, he exited on a high note. The Orioles put runners on second and third with one out in the seventh after J.J. Hardy walked, Steve Pearce singled and Danks threw a wild pitch. Caleb Joseph had the chance to tie the game or give the Orioles a lead and battled Danks for seven pitches. On that final pitch, Danks got Joseph to swing through his curveball that was so effective all night.

This effective curve made Danks' fastball look even faster. And throwing that fastball for strikes helped the changeup as well.

But the plan for Danks was a little more basic. Trust in White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers and hit the mitt.

"I was telling somebody I didn't shake off one time tonight," Danks said. "Tyler gets a lot of credit. He called a good game."

"We did a lot of communicating between innings," said Flowers, who added that Danks' cutter also worked well on Friday. "He was questioning whether his cutter wasn't good, because it actually was today. I just had to tell him his cutter was a good pitch."

In a talk with MLB.com on Tuesday in St. Louis, Danks held himself responsible as a reason for the White Sox disappointing season. He needed to pitch better, and on Friday, after throwing off the mound a few times during the break from action, Danks backed up his words.

There also was a comment from Danks as to how the White Sox had dug themselves a deep hole, but there was still plenty of season left to rectify the problem. The White Sox have a 3-0 record since that statement was made.

"If we can start playing consistent , each doing our job, we might find ourselves back in this thing," Danks said. "We all have to pull our weight. That certainly includes me, and maybe even a little more than some of the other guys. I haven't played as well as I would have liked."

"He was sharp, there's no question about it," said White Sox manager . "His breaking ball was great, he had good separation on the changeup and the fastball and he was locating his fastball."

Abreu's HR all Danks needs against Orioles By Scott Merkin and Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com | July 3rd, 2015

CHICAGO -- John Danks ended a personal four-game losing streak and extended the White Sox winning streak to three straight in pitching the South Siders to a 1-0 victory over the Orioles before 27,384 Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

Danks worked seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits, two walks and striking out five, before giving way to Jake Petricka in the eighth and David Robertson in the ninth, with Robertson striking out the side for his 17th .

The only run of the game scored in the third when Jose Abreu opened the frame with his 14th home run and 44th RBI. Abreu connected on a 0-2 fastball from Ubaldo Jimenez and crushed a low line drive over the right field wall.

Jimenez gave up six hits in his seven innings of work, striking out four and walking two. He allowed the first two runners to reach base in the second but stranded Conor Gillaspie at second and Alexei Ramirez at first. The Orioles have lost four of their last five.

"You tip your hat to their . John Danks has won 73, 74 ballgames in the big leagues. With a guy with his track record and pedigree, you know it's just a matter of time," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "Of course, he picked us to do it against. Ubaldo tried to match him as much he could. We had second and third, one out [in the seventh inning], first and second, nobody out [in the fifth]. That's when we kind of let it get away from us, didn't cash in there."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

The old 5-4 double play: Baltimore put the first two runners on base in the fifth via singles from Chris Davis and J.J. Hardy. But Steve Pearce's ensuing ground ball to third took Gillaspie to the base for the force, and Gillaspie fired the ball to second baseman Carlos Sanchez to get the second out there.

Danks backs up his words: The veteran southpaw said in St. Louis that he was a big part of the blame for the White Sox underachieving ways through 76 games this season, losing all four of his June starts. Danks added that he clearly needed to pitch better and on Friday, he did . "These guys have been swinging the bat well and for Johnny to come out tonight, it's a good feeling," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "We need to swing it a little bit better. Jose has the big homer, it just takes one when guys pitch like that. But we need to be a little more consistent offensively and let it fly a little bit."

Ubaldo tough-luck loser: Jimenez, who has a staff-leading seven wins, pitched well enough for another, but couldn't get any offensive support. The righty allowed just Abreu's homer and held the Sox to six hits overall over seven innings. It marked Jimenez's three quality start in his past four games.

"I was able to execute pitches and the guys were playing great defense. They helped me a lot getting to ground balls in the hole. They just kept making plays," Jimenez said. "I don't think that was a bad pitch [to Abreu]. I wanted to go away, and he just has such a long reach that he was able to get to that pitch, and he has a lot of power, so he was able to hit it a long way."

Seventh slips away: With the tying and go-ahead run in scoring position, the Os couldn't push anything across. After J.J. Hardy walked and Steve Pearce singled the pair moved over on Danks' wild pitch. But Caleb Joseph, who made great contact on a ball just foul, struck out and Ryan Flaherty flied out to keep them off the scoreboard.

"Me especially, I got to put the ball in play," Joseph said. "They are giving us a run there with the infield back and I got to put it in play. Can't strike out."

QUOTABLE

"We are going to try to win every game. We have to at this point. We will the rest of the year. We just have to play consistent baseball and hopefully we can get back in it."-- Danks, on the White Sox hope of getting into the playoff picture

DANKS HAS JONES' NUMBER With his 0-for-3 showing on Friday, Adam Jones is 1-for-33 lifetime against Danks. Davis is now 0-for-12 with nine against Robertson after the White Sox closer fanned him in the ninth.

REPLAY REVIEW The Orioles challenged and won a review call in the first inning as Adam Eaton was ruled to have grounded out in a close play. The initial call of safe was overturned.

WHAT'S NEXT

Orioles: Baltimore will send righty Chris Tillman to the hill on Saturday at 2:10 p.m. ET for the second game of the series. Tillman, who has had a rough first half, won Sunday after allowing four hits with six strikeouts in seven scoreless innings during Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Indians.

White Sox: Jeff Samardzija is coming off of a start in Detroit where he pitched seven scoreless innings and then allowed four runs in the eighth. Samardzija's 17th start of the season comes in this 1:10 p.m. CT first pitch against the Orioles.

White Sox sign first-round pick Fulmer Right-hander makes donation to ACE baseball program By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | July 3rd, 2015

CHICAGO -- It didn't take long for Carson Fulmer to fit in with the White Sox organization. And the right-hander has yet to even throw for them, unless his ceremonial first pitch prior to Friday's game between the White Sox and Orioles counts.

The White Sox top pick in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft agreed to a Minor League contract Friday with a $3,470,600 signing bonus, which is slot value for the No. 8 pick. Upon agreeing to the deal, the 21-year-old made a $10,000 donation to Chicago White Sox Charities that will be designated to support five players in the White Sox Amateur City Elite youth baseball program.

Ronell Coleman, one of Fulmer's teammates with the highly successful Vanderbilt program, also is an ACE graduate. Fulmer took time Friday to meet with a group of ACE players in the U.S. Cellular Conference and Learning Center. "Before I joined the White Sox, I kind of hinted to him that I wanted to do it. Obviously, he had a big smile on his face," said Fulmer of informing Coleman of the ACE donation. "It was just a special opportunity for me to give back, especially with the organization I'm part of now and to help kids that are going through tough situations or just need a little extra help moving forward."

"That was 100 percent on his own, he brought up the idea," said White Sox general manager Rick Hahn of Fulmer's donation. "He came up with the idea, he researched it, he said, 'Why don't I do this?' He is a class individual. We're looking to have him for his ability and for his role as a potential leader for this club."

That pitching aspect of the Fulmer package is fairly impressive. He was named SEC Pitcher of the Year and National Pitcher of the Year by the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015 after going 14-2 with a 1.83 ERA over 127 2/3 innings. Those results also included three complete games, 167 strikeouts and a .180 opponents' average over 19 starts at Vanderbilt.

Fulmer became the fourth pitcher in SEC history and first since 2005 to lead the conference in wins, ERA and strikeouts, and his 167 strikeouts are the second-highest total in Vanderbilt history behind 's 194 in 2007. He'll get some time off before reporting to the White Sox Arizona Rookie League affiliate, with the 127 2/3 innings already thrown factored into his workload for the remainder of the year.

"We'll see how he adapts. There is no rush or no urgency to move quickly," Hahn said. "He certainly has the talent and the makeup to potentially move quickly, but at this time, let's just get him acclimated to pro ball and adapt accordingly as he proceeds through the system."

"I'm ready to go," Fulmer said. "I hate taking time off and trying to slow stuff down. But it's part of their plan. They know what they're doing, obviously. I'm just here for the ride and control what I can control."

Hahn: White Sox have no room for error GM points to July as determining direction of club By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | July 3rd, 2015

CHICAGO -- Let's play a little good news, bad news for the 2015 White Sox.

Good news: They enter this weekend on a two-game winning streak over the team with the best record in baseball, the Cardinals, and sit 6 1/2 games out of an American League Wild Card.

Bad news: Every team in the AL ranks ahead of them, as the White Sox started Friday with the worst record in the league by percentage points.

Good news: The next 16 games played by the White Sox take place in Chicago, with 13 of them coming at U.S. Cellular Field.

Bad news: Baltimore, Toronto, the Cubs, Kansas City and St. Louis, the teams the White Sox will face during this 16- game stretch, were a combined 51 games over .500 starting Friday.

The harshest news of all is that with the halfway point of the season approaching this week, the White Sox have absolutely no room for error.

"We've put ourselves in position where July is a very important month for us. It's a critical month for our direction for the next several months," said White Sox general manager Rick Hahn. "We don't have the luxury at this point to continue to give away games or put ourselves in a deeper hole.

"Everybody in that clubhouse knows it. We've talked about it. They are aware of the situation and they have spoken publicly about the fact that they know we've put ourselves in this position where July is critical." Hahn reiterated that there won't be a time in July when he walks outside U.S. Cellular Field and figuratively hangs up an "open for business" sign or announces the team plans to add on to the potential postseason cause.

"I don't think that's strategically to our advantage," Hahn said. "But we have spent a lot of time working on contingencies and coming up with different paths that we could travel. Ultimately, when we do head down one of those paths, I'll sit right here and explain why."

Executive vice president Ken Williams spoke to the media last Friday in Detroit and pointed the finger of responsibility at himself, as the man who ultimately signed off on the free-agent deals and the man who ultimately is in charge.

On Friday, Hahn expressed appreciation for the support and no consternation over the work dynamic with Williams that has been going on between the two for 15 years and three with Hahn as GM. Hahn stressed the group decision-making process that involves White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

"It surprises me that how the dynamic works is even a question or an issue at this point," Hahn said. "We were pretty clear at the initial press conference when I assumed this position that Kenny is executive vice president of the organization. He is my boss. I report to Kenny. Just like anyone with a boss, I'm accountable to him for my performance and he has to approve of what I do.

"We are in this together, and we're all trying to get this thing right. When multiple people say they're responsible for the thing, it shows a lot of people care and are accountable."

White Sox make international splash Reyes, Tatis Jr., Nova and Vasquez sign with club By Dionisio Soldevila / MLB.com | July 3rd, 2015

SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC -- The White Sox introduced the future Thursday, unveiling four Dominican prospects during the first day of the international signing period.

The jewel of the group is outfielder Franklin Reyes, 16, a resident of Bani, in southeast Dominican Republic. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Reyes is a nephew of former White Sox and 2005 World Series star Juan Uribe, who is now with the Atlanta Braves.

"It's a dream come true for me," said Reyes. "I've been working hard to reach this goal in my life, and now I know that I have to continue with the good work, because this is just the beginning of my real dream, to reach the Big Leagues."

Reyes, who received a $1.5 million bonus, was rated by MLB.com as No. 30 among international prospects this year. He is an impressive physical prospect with raw power and arm strength, according the scouts who evaluated him.

Along with Reyes, the White Sox also signed Fernando Tatis Jr., 16, an infielder who can play third base and shortstop. He is the eldest son of former Major Leaguer Fernando Tatis, who played 11 seasons in the big leagues.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Tatis is a teenager with great athleticism, good bat speed and power.

"I know that I have a big challenge ahead of me, and a big responsibility because of my last name," said Tatis, who was ranked by MLB.com as the No. 27 international prospect. "I have always been a big fan of my dad, and he helped me a lot to be here reaching the first level of my dream."

For the elder Tatis, his son could be a better player than he was.

"He has, by far, a better talent than me. If he works hard and keeps his mind in the right direction, he is going to be very good," said Tatis Sr., who hit .298 with 31 doubles, 34 home runs and drove in 107 runs with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1999. Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager, and Marco Paddy, special assistant to the general manager, international operations, attended the press conference introducing the team's new prospects at The Radisson Hotel Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

"These young men not only have impressive abilities," Hahn said. "They also are incredible individuals off the field, as well. For our organization, it is very important to have and receive these type of persons in our White Sox family. These investments in the Dominican Republic, as well in Latin America, are a sign of the importance of this market for us."

The White Sox also signed Brayant Nova, 16, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound switch-hitter infielder who also is from Bani.

"This is the best moment of my life," Nova said. "I have to give thanks to God, to my trainers and my parents because all of them helped me to reach my dream. Since I was 5 years old, I've been dreaming of this moment. This is a dream come true, and I know that now I have to work even harder to reach the big leagues."

The organization ended its first day of the international signing period by adding shortstop Santo Vasquez, 16, a 6-foot, 170-pound shortstop from Guayacanal, Azua, Dominican Republic.

"I've always been a big fan of Jose Reyes," Vasquez said. "I like Reyes' style, his spark and the way that he plays. I want to be like him, and I think that I can do it. I feel proud to be a member of the White Sox family. I know that they are a very good organization."

Sale given extra day of rest, will face Buehrle Left-hander will open series against Blue Jays on Monday By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | July 3rd, 2015

CHICAGO -- The pitching matchup between Mark Buehrle and Chris Sale for Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field became all but official, with White Sox manager Robin Ventura announcing Friday that Sale would start the Blue Jays' series opener and Carlos Rodon would pitch Sunday against the Orioles.

"We didn't do it because of that, but you now notice it. It could be a quick game," Ventura said of Buehrle and Sale matching up on the mound. "This isn't anything to do with [Sale] health-wise.

Major League Baseball time travels to 1999 in light of Chris Sale tying Pedro Martinez with eight straight 10-strikeout games

"He's not complaining about anything. It's just more of being able to give him an extra day. We've done it in the past where, whenever we had a chance, we'd take care of him."

Sale was named American League Pitcher of the Month for June on Thursday's White Sox off-day, in what amounted to one of the best months for a White Sox pitcher in franchise history. The southpaw fanned a franchised record 75 in June and joined Pedro Martinez as the only in Major League history to reach 10-plus strikeouts in eight consecutive games.

Not one for the individual accolades, Sale was as quick to credit catcher Tyler Flowers for his success as he was to revel in his own results.

"It's cool. It's something to kick around, talk about, later on down the road," said Sale of the honor. "I definitely appreciate it, people looking at what we've done together with Flow this past month.

"There's a lot of hard work that goes into it, so it's nice to see that it's paying off for both of us. But like I said before, I'm not going to sit here and be focused on that."

Samardzija takes on Orioles in holiday matinee By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | July 3rd, 2015 The Orioles are fighting for the American League East crown. The White Sox find themselves more in survival mode where the AL Central is concerned, trying to climb back into playoff contention.

And Jeff Samardzija's immediate future could be predicated on how successful the White Sox are at reaching this currently remote goal. Samardzija pitches Saturday afternoon for the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, coming off a start against the Tigers in which he threw seven scoreless innings but was touched up for four runs in the eighth.

With Samardzija having worked at least seven innings in eight of his last nine starts, the free-agent-to-be at the end of the 2015 season shapes up as a target for contending teams if the White Sox fall out of contention. Samardzija faced the Orioles on April 29 at Camden Yards, in the game played without fans in the stands because of civil unrest in Baltimore, and allowed eight runs on 10 hits over five innings.

Chris Tillman gets the call for the Orioles. Tillman has had a rough first half, but he won Sunday after allowing four hits with six strikeouts in seven scoreless innings during Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Indians.

Things to know about this game

• Orioles catcher Matt Wieters is expected to get the start behind the plate. The O's are 11-5 in games in which he's started since returning from Tommy John surgery.

• The White Sox current homestand is made up of seven games against the AL East. The team enters Saturday's contest with a 3-7 record against that division.

• Melky Cabrera has six doubles, two homers and 11 RBIs over his last 22 games, to go with his .320 average over that span.

For White Sox, no time to lose Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune | July 3, 2015

Last place is the last place the White Sox want to be.

But that's where they find themselves in the American League Central, and with one of the worst winning percentages in the league at .455 after Friday night's 1-0 victory over the Orioles at U.S. Cellular Field.

If a move upward is to be made, it will have to continue against another quality team, the Orioles, who they beat with Jose Abreu's 50th career home run and seven innings of shutout ball from John Danks that snapped his personal four- game losing streak.

"It's always more fun to win," said Danks (4-8).

The Sox, who have won seven of 11, entered the series fresh off a two-game sweep over the National League Central- leading Cardinals but they trail the Royals by 10 games in their division.

"We've put ourselves in position where July is a very important month for us," Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "It's a critical month for our direction for the next several months. We don't have the luxury at this point to continue to give away games or put ourselves in a deeper hole. Everybody in that clubhouse knows it."

Everybody in the front office knows it, too.

Hahn said there is no disputing who is responsible for the White Sox's struggles this season — everybody.

Executive vice president Ken Williams last week took the ultimate blame, saying he hired the manager and the general manager and that he answers to Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

On Friday, Hahn took his turn taking the blame. "It's admirable when anyone stands up and says the responsibility is on me," Hahn said. "It is going to be really difficult for me personally not to feel responsible for the performance of this team — good, bad or indifferent.

"I think you have heard (manager Robin Ventura) say that he feels responsible for it. Last week I saw some quotes from players taking responsibility for it, which is good. We are in this together and we're all trying to get this thing right."

Hahn said his role in the organization is clear and that any perceived power struggle between him and Williams is unfounded. Hahn was in the Dominican Republic last week when Williams said Hahn hadn't "graduated to that point yet" of taking the first call from Reinsdorf when things aren't going well.

Hahn also said he values a culture such as the White Sox's, where disagreement is welcomed and "yes men" are not.

"It surprises me that how the dynamic works is even a question or an issue at this point," Hahn said. "We were pretty clear at the initial press conference when I assumed this position that Kenny is executive vice president of the organization. He is my boss. I report to Kenny. Just like anyone with a boss, I'm accountable to him for my performance and he has to approve of what I do."

Sale deflects credit: Chris Sale deflected praise for his June AL pitcher of the month award to catcher Tyler Flowers.

Sale was 2-2 with a 1.83 ERA and struck out 75 while walking eight in 44 1/3 innings in June to earn his second such award.

"He doesn't get near the credit he should get because he's the one basically doing all the homework, doing all the studying," Sale said Monday. "He's the brains of the operation. I'm just out there following his lead, really. As much as I'm getting, he should get just as much if not more."

Sale joked that the two could share the award.

"We'll mail it back and forth to each other, I guess," he said

Pedro Martinez rooting for Chris Sale to break strikeout record Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune | July 3, 2015

Pedro Martinez will be watching and rooting for Chris Sale on Monday as the White Sox left-hander attempts to break the record he shares with Martinez of eight consecutive games with 10 or more strikeouts.

As he prepares to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame this month, Martinez has been paying close attention to Sale's strikeout streak, just like any other fan.

"I wish him well," Martinez said in a phone interview. "I hope he sets a record that no one can reach for many years. He has been a really bright spot for baseball, and I'm actually looking in to see him every time he gets on the bump. I really will stop and watch. It's good for baseball.

"I haven't met him in person. But I've seen him, and I'll tell you what, he's someone to really watch closely. He has everything he needs to become a really successful superstar."

Sale's strikeout streak is highlighted by other mini-marks, including a franchise-record 65 strikeouts over a five-game stretch, the most in the majors since Randy Johnson struck out 65 in five consecutive starts in 2001. The American League Pitcher of the Month for June also joined Johnson and Martinez as the only three pitchers to strike out 12 or more in five consecutive starts, and Sandy Koufax as the only two since 1900 to have three straight starts of 12-plus strikeouts with one or no runs allowed.

Along the way, Sale threw 22 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings from May 23 to June 8, the longest streak in the majors this year and second longest of his career (28 in 2013). Martinez set his record of eight straight double-digit strikeout games in 1999, a remarkable Cy Young Award-winning season in which he actually had a seven-game streak of 10 or more strikeouts in early spring, well before the record stretch in August and September.

Martinez started hot and became more dominant as the streak went along. Facing the Yankees at old Yankee Stadium during the fifth game of the streak, he allowed one run on one hit over nine innings, striking out 17 with no walks. Overall, Martinez went 6-1 with a 1.18 ERA in his eight starts, with 107 strikeouts in 61 innings, an average of 15.8 per nine.

Currently an analyst for MLB Network, Martinez knows the added media attention will make it more difficult for Sale, who prefers to operate under the radar. Martinez's streak in '99 certainly got some publicity, but home runs still ruled during the steroids era, so perhaps not as much as Martinez may have deserved.

White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez (10) throws a ball hit by center fielder Adam Jones to first base during the eighth inning.

Members of the grounds crew wait for the Baltimore Orioles to finish warming up before preparing the field at U.S. Cellular Field.

Martinez said he tried to downplay the streak while it was happening, as the Red Sox were competing for a division title, ultimately earning a wild-card berth before losing to the Yankees in the American League Championship Series.

"There was a buzz going around and excitement about me doing it," he said. "I saw some flashes from the media that Nolan Ryan had been the previous one with the record. I heard those things, but normally we're too busy trying to perform, and I was always focusing on the next game.

"I had one done, and then bring on the next one. I was trying not to get tied up in the emotions of whatever was happening. But I knew what I was doing, and I was very locked in and I was trying to preserve that. And I hope Sale continues to do that as well."

Though they're completely different pitchers and throw from different sides, the two have some similarities. Like Sale, Martinez started his career in the bullpen, with the Dodgers in 1993. He was traded to the Expos and went 11-5 as a starter in the strike-shortened 1994 season.

The White Sox wanted to do likewise with rookie Carlos Rodon, but he was inserted into the rotation after just three relief appearances when Sale and Jeff Samardzija were suspended for a brawl with the Royals, and he has stayed there.

"It doesn't help you, but it gives you an advantage to spend a year and get the kinks, the butterflies out of your stomach," Martinez said. "As a starter, it's a huge adjustment you have to make. Sometimes it'll take you almost a year, especially for young players like (Sale). Maybe this year is the year (Sale) feels most comfortable because of the experience of being a consistent starter."

Martinez had a longer rope back in the day. He averaged 119 pitches in his eight starts, with a high of 130. Still, Sale has averaged 116 pitches, with a high of 125.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura is unapologetic about removing Sale from a gem because of his pitch count, noting Sale's long-term value to the franchise. During the sixth game of the streak against the Rangers, Sale retired the first 17 men he faced but was removed after 112 pitches with a 1-0 lead, despite striking out 14 and allowing only two hits in eight shutout innings. The Sox lost 2-1.

But the Sox do lengthen the leash on occasion.

"They let Chris Sale run out there for 110 or 115 (pitches)," Tigers ace David Price said. "I saw one start he had in Baltimore (on May 28) when he had 10 strikeouts through seven, and they run him back out there and he faces two righties in the eighth. He strikes them both out, and then they pulled him at (120). He's obviously getting the pitches and has the stuff to (set records)."

Martinez had 10 starts of 124 or more pitches under manager Jimy Williams in '99.

Pitch counts weren't enforced quite as strictly then.

"No, but I was also around 110 to 115 pitches," Martinez said. "And I was about to (get to double-digit strikeouts) with that amount of pitches, and sometimes finish the game, because I was a strike-thrower.

"Specifically that year I was very good at throwing strikes, and my strikeouts compared to walks was a major-league high, 37 walks and (313) strikeouts. But believe me, Sale does have the stuff, and probably even better stuff than I had."

Martinez went 23-4 that year with a 2.07 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. How could Sale possibly have better stuff than that?

"Believe me, (Sale throws) high 90s, lefty, lengthy …" Martinez said. "He's really uncomfortable for anyone to face, righty or lefty. I wasn't that big. I wasn't probably that deceiving. I just really was able to locate some of those pitches."

Friday's recap: White Sox 1, Orioles 0 Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune | July 3, 2015

The summary

John Danks gave up just five hits in seven innings to post a 1-0 victory over the Orioles on Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field. In the seventh, pitched out of a second-and-third, one-out jam after his wild pitch allowed the potential tying and go-ahead runs to advance.

At the plate

Jose Abreu's 14th home run in the third inning, his second in 18 games, was all the offense the White Sox needed.

On the mound

David Robertson struck out the side in the ninth for his 17th save in 21 chances. Danks finished with five strikeouts and two walks in 96 pitches and lowered his ERA from 5.38 to 4.95. The Orioles' Ubaldo Jimenez nearly matched Danks, giving up six hits while striking out four and walking two in seven innings.

On the bases

Adam Eaton didn't run through first base and his infield single was overturned after a challenge in the first inning, potentially costing the Sox a run after Melky Cabrera doubled. Avisail Garcia singled but was thrown out at second in the third.

In the field

The White Sox turned two double plays — one of the 5-4 variety with nobody out in the fifth inning and one to end the first. Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie made his 10th error of the season in the third. The Sox have 53 errors this season.

Key number

12 — Number of first-inning runs given up by John Danks this season, the most for him in any inning.

The quote

"I'd like to see some zeroes. That's always the plan when you go out there. All of our pitchers have had problems getting out of the first, so get through that and we'll go from there." — Robin Ventura on Danks and the pitching staff. Up next

Vs. Orioles, 1:10 p.m. Saturday, CSN.

White Sox welcome top pick Carson Fulmer aboard Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune | July 3, 2015

Carson Fulmer stood wide-eyed in the home dugout late Friday afternoon, his white shirt arranged just so beneath his white White Sox jersey.

He also wore a $3,470,600 smile — the value of signing bonus on the contract the team's first-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt signed earlier in the day — and some nerves as he gripped a baseball.

The right-handed pitcher chatted with Sox legend and exchanged hellos with Hall of Fame Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer.

Along the way, Fulmer met, in passing, White Sox ace Chris Sale, who hails from Fulmer's hometown of Lakeland, Fla.

Or maybe it's the other way around. Fulmer said he didn't want to disrupt Sale's routine with small talk, but is looking forward to bending his ear.

"Looking up to somebody like that, you get a little nervous before you meet them," Fulmer said before the game with the Orioles. "Hopefully here in a little bit we can get together and talk about certain things."

Fulmer's first investment will be a $10,000 donation to the White Sox Amateur City Elite players, a group in which Fulmer's teammate at Vanderbilt, Simeon graduate Ro Coleman, was a participant.

"That was 100 percent on his own," Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "He brought up the idea. … He said, 'Why don't I do this?'"

Fulmer's next investment, well, that's up in the air.

"I don't know if there will be a lot of purchases," Fulmer, 21, said. "I'm safe about my money."

Just as the White Sox plan to be with him.

Hahn said Fulmer, the eighth overall pick in the draft, will rest a bit before reporting to Arizona. Fulmer, a 6-foot, 195- pounder, was the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year and Baseball America named him a first-team All-America for going 14-2 with a 1.83 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 127 2/3 innings.

"There is no rush," Hahn said. "He certainly has the talent and the makeup to potentially move quickly, but at this time it's just get him acclimated to pro ball and adapt accordingly."

Speaking of Sale: As expected, Sale's scheduled Sunday start was pushed back to Monday, which means he will face the fast-working former Sox ace Mark Buehrle and the Blue Jays.

"We didn't do it because of that, but you now notice it," Sox manager Robin Venturasaid. "It could be a quick game."

Ventura said the decision to move Carlos Rodon into Sale's spot had nothing to do with any health issues.

"(Sale's) not complaining about anything," Ventura said. "It's more being able to give him (extra rest)."

Sox' GM Rick Hahn: No rift with Kenny Williams Seth Gruen, Chicago Sun Times | July 3, 2015 White Sox general manager Rick Hahn did his best Friday to defuse speculation that a cold war is brewing between him and White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams.

Hahn was working on player signings last week in the Dominican Republic when Williams made comments asserting that his influence over the Sox’ baseball operations had changed little since he moved higher up in the front office and Hahn replaced him as GM in October 2012. At the time, the dynamic was painted as one in which Hahn — who had been Williams’ longtime assistant GM — would make more of the day-to-day decisions.

Hahn addressed the speculation when he spoke for the first time since Williams made his comments.

‘‘It surprises me that how the dynamic works is even a question or an issue at this point,’’ Hahn said before the Sox blanked the Baltimore Orioles 1-0 behind seven strong innings by left-hander John Danks (4-8) and a home run in the third by Jose Abreu. ‘‘We were pretty clear at the initial press conference when I assumed this position that Kenny is executive vice president of the organization. He is my boss. I report to Kenny. Just like anyone with a boss, I’m accountable to him for my performance.’’

Of course, there wouldn’t be such speculation if the Sox were doing better on the field.

In his comments last week, Williams took responsibility for the Sox’ woes. Hahn also has said he considers himself accountable for a season in which the Sox find themselves in last place in the American League Central.

‘‘It’s admirable when anyone stands up and says, ‘The responsibility is on me,’ ’’ Hahn said. ‘‘I think you have heard me say before that [it] is going to be really difficult for me personally not to feel responsible for the performance of this team.

‘‘We are in this together, and we’re all trying to get this thing right. When multiple [people] say they’re responsible for the thing, it shows a lot of people care and are accountable.’’

That said, accountability and responsibility won’t put the Sox in a playoff race. In fact, there might little they can do at this point to salvage their season.

Nonetheless, Hahn indicated July will be an important month for the Sox.

‘‘There’s not going to be a time at any point where I come out and say, ‘This is the direction we are going,’ ’’ Hahn said. ‘‘I don’t think that’s strategically to our advantage. But we have spent a lot of time working on contingencies and coming up with different paths that we could travel, and ulti- mately we [will] head down one of those paths.’’

NOTES: Manager Robin Ven- Ventura said left-hander Chris Sale will be pushed back a day and will start Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays instead of Sunday against the Orioles.

Rookie left-hander Carlos Rodon will start Sunday, and Sale will face former Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle.

The Sox announced the signing of 2015 first-round draft pick Carson Fulmer, a right-hander from Vanderbilt, to a minor- league contract that includes a $3,470,600 signing bonus.

White Sox sign first-round pick Carson Fulmer Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun Times | July 3, 2015

The White Sox signed right-hander Carson Fulmer, their first-round pick in June draft, to a minor-league contract Friday.

Fulmer, the No. 8 overall selection out of Vanderbilt, will receive a $3,470,600-million signing bonus. Fulmer, 21, was named National Pitcher of the Year by the College Baseball Hall of Fame after going 14-2 with a 1.83 ERA in his junior season at Vandy. He had 167 strikeouts over 127 2/3 innings.

“We are pleased to get Carson signed and into the organization quickly to start his professional career,” Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. “Carson has been among the elite college pitchers each of the last two seasons – pitching the Commodores to a championship in 2014 and a runner-up finish in 2015. He is a winner who has impressed us with his leadership and character both on and off the baseball diamond.”

Are Chicago White Sox in ... or out? Scot Gregor, Daily Herald | July 4, 2015

Is there still a chance for the White Sox to stay together and make a late run at the playoffs?

Once again, general manager Rick Hahn wasn't tipping his hand on Friday at U.S. Cellular Field, but he did lay some cards on the table.

"We've put ourselves in position where July is a very important month for us," Hahn said. "It's a critical month for our direction for the next several months. We don't have the luxury at this point to continue to give away games or put ourselves in a deeper hole.

"Everybody in that clubhouse knows it. We've talked about it. They are aware of the situation and they have spoken publicly about the fact that they know we've put ourselves in this position where July is critical."

While they have been playing somewhat better baseball as of late -- and while two wild-card spots makes it much easier to stay in the playoff race -- the Sox still had the worst record in the American League heading into Friday night's game against the Orioles.

They were also last in the league in runs scored and close to the bottom in pitching and defense.

That's why the White Sox look like a team that will be subtracting players like Jeff Samardzija, Adam LaRoche and others instead of adding before the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline.

"There's not going to be a time at any point where I come out and say this is the direction we are going," Hahn said. "I don't think that's strategically to our advantage. But we have spent a lot of time working on contingencies and coming up with different paths that we could travel. Ultimately, if we do head down one of those paths, I'll sit right here and explain why."

On the Sox' last road trip, executive vice president Kenny Williams made a rare appearance and created a stir in an interview with reporters.

"I take full responsibility for the underperformance right now," Williams said. "I hired the manager (Robin Ventura). I hired the general manager. Ultimately, I sign off on off-season acquisitions or anyone signed to a contract or trades or anything else. Believe me when I tell you this, the first phone call when the chairman (Jerry Reinsdorf) is upset, it isn't to any of those guys. It's to me."

That sure sounds like Hahn is still the assistant GM.

"It surprise me that how the dynamic works is even a question or an issue at this point," Hahn said. "We were pretty clear at the initial press conference when I assumed this position that Kenny is executive vice president of the organization. He is my boss. I report to Kenny. Just like anyone with a boss, I'm accountable to him for my performance and he has to approve of what I do.

"Ultimately Jerry, people who pay attention know he's very much involved. For the last 15 years I've been here, there's been very clear and open dialogue between the three of us and certainly that's no different this year and hasn't been any different for the last couple of years." So there is no power struggle?

"When we are trying to solve a problem, all ideas and opinions are put out there and we parcel through and it's a collaborative effort to come up with the best outcome for the organization," Hahn said. "I think in any business, you want to have people with different points of view or at least different ways of approaching problem solving and not a bunch of people who are necessarily yes men or fall into line. It's important to have an environment, as I feel we have had here for the last 15 years, of a free exchange of ideas and a clear opportunity for people to state their mind regardless of title or position in the organization."

Fulmer looks forward to getting started with Chicago White Sox Scot Gregor, Daily Herald | July 4, 2015

Thanks to their poor showing over the first half of the season, the White Sox are expected to trade a starting pitcher, most likely Jeff Samardzija, to a contending team.

On Friday, a very likely replacement made his first trip to U.S. Cellular Field.

Carson Fulmer, a collegiate All-American from Vanderbilt and the Sox' first-round draft pick (No. 8 overall) last month, was in town after agreeing to a minor-league contract and $3.47 million signing bonus.

Much like Chris Sale and Carlos Rodon, last year's No. 3 overall draft pick, Fulmer is talented enough to be in the major leagues by next season.

"I feel like in certain ways you've got to be patient," the 21-year-old Fulmer said. "Obviously, the White Sox have a plan. I'm a part of the organization now; I just have to sit back and try to develop as much as I can as a player and just let them control it.

"All I can go out and do is compete and try to give my team the best chance to win. But in regard to moving up and trying to get through the organization as fast as possible, it's out of my control and I'm just going to do whatever it takes to help us win."

Fulmer was accustomed to winning at Vanderbilt, going 24-3 with a 1.99 ERA in his three seasons at the Southeastern Conference power. The Commodores won the College World Series in 2014 and were second this year. This past season, Fulmer went 14-2 with a 1.83 ERA and was named National Pitcher of the Year by the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

"It's definitely gone by quick, going to Vandy and experiencing those things was great, developing relationships with some of my best friends," Fulmer said of his whirlwind year. "But coming here, I think it's definitely going to help me moving forward, the experience I've had to pitch in front of big stages and stuff like that. Moving forward, I think it's going to be nice.

"I'm glad to be here. I'm thankful to have this opportunity to be a part of the White Sox and I'm definitely looking forward to it."

After pitching 127⅔ innings this season, the Sox are going to give Fulmer some needed rest before sending him to the Arizona Rookie League. That's where Rodon debuted last season before making brief stops at Class A Winston-Salem and AAA Charlotte.

"We're going to give Carson a little more time off," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "He last pitched on June 22 and he is going to have a few more weeks to ease into the professional life. Probably, he will start off in Arizona and throw some innings down there and then we will start running him through the system."

Danks pulls his weight as Chicago White Sox blank Orioles Scot Gregor, Daily Herald | July 4, 2015

If the White Sox hope to get back into the playoff picture, they're going to need help from the entire roster. John Danks has been one of the Sox' bigger failures over the disappointing first half of the season, but the left-handed starter pitched in Friday night in the Sox' 1-0 win over the Orioles at U.S. Cellular Field.

"We all have to pull our weight," Danks said after allowing 5 hits in 7 innings. "That certainly includes me, and maybe even a little more than some of the other guys. I haven't played as well as I would have liked.

"I also said that we've dug ourselves a deep hole but there's a lot of the season left. If we can start playing consistent baseball, each doing our jobs, we might find ourselves back in this thing."

The White Sox (35-42) have won three in a row, but they're still in last place and need to reel off many more wins to reach contender status.

If Danks can pitch like he did against Baltimore, it would only help the cause.

"He still had a couple misses," catcher Tyler Flowers said. "I think he knows what he needs to do. When he stays on top, all his stuff's better. His changeup's better, his command's better, his breaking ball's better, his cutter's better."

Jose Abreu's home run off Baltimore starter Ubaldo Jimenez in the third inning accounted for the game's lone run.

"Josey has the big homer, and it just takes one when guys pitch like that," manager Robin Ventura said. "But we need to be a little more consistent offensively and let it fly a little bit. You have to find the fastball and get on it. (Jimenez) has just got great movement. There are not too many guys that have his movement."

Sale vs. Buehrle

After logging 44⅓ innings in June and striking out 75 while winning American League Pitcher of the Month honors, White Sox ace Chris Sale is getting a well deserved extra day of rest.

Instead of starting against the Orioles on Sunday -- Carlos Rodon now gets the call -- Sale is going Monday night against the Blue Jays at U.S. Cellular Field.

Considering former Sox great Mark Buehrle is scheduled to take the mound for Toronto, it is a dream matchup.

"We didn't do it because of that, but you now notice it," manager Robin Ventura said. "It could be a quick game."

The White Sox have exercised extreme caution with Sale since he joined the starting rotation in 2012, and this is just a continuation.

"This isn't anything to do with him health wise, he's not complaining about anything," Ventura said. "It's just being able to take care of Chris. He doesn't care one way or the other. I think if he cared it would have probably been maybe a something little different. It's just more of being able to give him an extra day."

Sale detests talking about his personal accomplishments, but he is proud of being named the AL's top pitcher for June.

"It's cool," Sale said. "It's something to kick around, talk about, later on down the road. I definitely appreciate it, people looking at what we've done together with Flow (catcher Tyler Flowers) this past month. There's a lot of hard work that goes into it so it's nice to see that it's paying off for both of us."

When he faces the Jays, Sale has a shot at striking out 10 or more in 9 straight starts, which would be a major-league record for a single season.

"If you ask any pitcher he'll say that striking guys out is fun," Sale said. "You don't go out there with the mindset of 'Hey, I'm going to try to strike everyone out.' But when you do it's satisfying."

John Danks dandy in win, but can he find consistency? Doug Padilla, ESPN.com | July 4, 2015 CHICAGO -- Something about John Danks and June just did not mix.

The White Sox left-hander book-ended one of the worst months of his career with the kind of outing he has been on a quest to find for some time. His seven shutout innings in a 1-0 win over the Orioles on Friday were not only dictated by an effective curveball low in the strike zone, but a changeup that complimented his fastball well.

The other side of his bookend had come on May 31, when Danks delivered a complete-game shutout at Houston.

John Danks used an effective curveball to deliver the White Sox to a 1-0 win on Friday. AP Photo/Paul Beaty

In between, his four starts in June were a nightmare. He lost all four games, posting a 6.85 ERA in the process. It got so bad that when rain postponed his final start of the month, the coaching staff elected to skip his outing entirely instead of letting him pitch the following day.

“I’ve pitched my way into being the guy who gets skipped; I understand that,” Danks said. “My goal is to be consistent. Go out there and work my way into being one of the top guys again. My job is when I get the ball, to go deep into the game and give us a chance to win.”

Figuring out how to get Danks to pitch with some consistency will be the hard part. Since returning from shoulder surgery two seasons ago, Danks has been trying to reinvent himself as more of a crafty left-hander, having lost a few ticks on his fastball.

There have been occasional highs, but mostly lows with Danks often giving frank assessments of himself like, “I stunk” (June 22 at Minnesota) or “Made some bad pitches that got hit” (May 21 versus Cleveland).

Danks gave catcher Tyler Flowers much of the credit for his performance Friday, and Flowers saw some things in the outing he might be able to tap into for the future, although he didn’t want to give away too many secrets.

“He still had a couple misses, but I think he knows what he needs to do,” Flowers said. “When he stays on top and doesn’t peel out of it, all his stuff is better. His changeup is better, his command is better, his breaking ball is better, his cutter is better. Sometimes you can see it.”

From Flowers’ vantage point he can see it all, and he liked the view Friday.

“He was questioning whether his cutter wasn’t good, because it actually was today,” Flowers said. “I just had to tell him his cutter was a good pitch.”

It was understandable that Danks had his doubts. It isn’t often lately that he is so deep into a game without allowing a run, the May 31 start notwithstanding. The coaching staff’s decision to skip a Danks start did more than give the veteran a breather. Danks used it to get on the bullpen mound and work on his mechanics.

“This is something to build of off, definitely,” manager Robin Ventura said. “He went through a bit of a mechanical change and tried to speed things up. I thought he was getting it out of his glove and really looked sharp. He looked out over his hips and to home plate and it just looked better. It was coming out of his hand pretty nice.”

Of the four White Sox left-handed starters, Danks is the one pulling up the rear. Chris Sale is having a historic season, Jose Quintana is as consistent as ever and Carlos Rodon has burst onto the scene showing a ton of promise. Danks sounds motivated to run with the pack.

“Yeah, you know we all have to pull our weight,” Danks said. “That certainly includes me, and maybe even a little more than some of the other guys. I haven’t played as well as I would have liked. I also said that we’ve dug ourselves a deep hole, but there’s a lot of the season left. If we can start playing consistent baseball, each doing our jobs, we might find ourselves back in this thing.”

The White Sox’s pitchers have done their part, but another drab performance by the offense failed to show that the White Sox have what it takes to get on any kind of a run. They scored on a Jose Abreu home run, but then got nothing else. Danks was rolling enough to make it stand up, and Jake Petricka and David Robertson did their part out of the bullpen, with Robertson striking out the side in the ninth inning to notch his 17th save.

“The results might not always have been there, it's been a tough go, but he will battle,” Ventura said of Danks. “We know he's going out there, even in the seventh, he had two guys on and the ball bounces away -- now it's second and third. Tonight he bears down and had the feel for those pitches to be able to pitch out of that. He's got no quit in him.”

Danks knows it won’t be easy to survive on the nights when he doesn’t have all his pitches. On Friday he had them all, set up by an effective curveball.

“That was a pretty good pitch for him, especially now that he’s showing not only the ability to throw it for strikes, but to throw it below the zone,” Flowers said. “It’s definitely a good weapon for him, good change of speed. I think it kind of levels out the playing field as far as his fastball setting up the curveball-tandem combo. All of a sudden that 89, 90, 91 (mph) has a feeling like you’re throwing 95.”

Danks understandably had more energy postgame. The White Sox won their third consecutive game and after recently blaming himself for the entirety of his team’s woes this season, there was no need to beat himself up.

“It was a fun game,” he said. “It’s always more fun to win, but I needed a good game personally, and I’m glad we were able to keep this winning streak going.”

Rapid Reaction: White Sox 1, Orioles 0 Doug Padilla, ESPN.com | July 3, 2015

CHICAGO – The White Sox won their third consecutive game, defeating the Baltimore Orioles 1-0 in the opener of a three-game series and seven-game homestand.

How it happened: White Sox starter John Danks was impressive, delivering seven scoreless innings and allowing just five hits. Jose Abreu hit a home run for the lone run, his 14th of the season and just his second since June 12. White Sox closer David Robertson pitched the ninth inning for his 17th save in 21 chances. Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez continued his solid pitching this season, but was the hard-luck loser after giving up one run and six hits in seven innings.

What it means: Danks moved quickly to put an uninspiring June behind him. The left-hander pitched a complete-game shutout at Houston on May 31, but went 0-4 with a 6.85 ERA over four starts last month. When rain postponed his most recent start Saturday at Detroit, the White Sox elected to skip his turn entirely instead of letting him pitch the next day. Friday's outing lowered Danks’ ERA from 5.38 to 4.95.

Outside the box: Masters of the one-run game, the White Sox were at it again Friday. Five out of the last six White Sox games have been decided by one run, and it could have been six out of six had they not scored five runs in the ninth inning Wednesday at St. Louis. The White Sox are a surprising 16-14 in one-run games, which is a nod to their solid pitching and a sign of their inconsistent offense.

Off beat: Replacing third-baseman Conor Gillaspie late in games or against left-handed pitching is a common occurrence, but he delivered with his glove Friday. In the fifth inning, he started a key 5-4 double play, picking off a short hop from the bat of Steve Pearce and firing to Carlos Sanchez at second base. The White Sox turned two double plays behind Danks, both started by Gillaspie. still replaced Gillaspie on defense in the seventh inning.

Up next: The White Sox will send right-hander Jeff Samardzija (5-4, 4.56 ERA) to the mound Saturday in the middle game of the three-game series. The Orioles will counter with right-hander Chris Tillman (6-7, 5.67) in the 1:10 p.m. CT start from U.S. Cellular Field.

Danks, Abreu lead White Sox over Orioles 1-0 Associated Press, ESPN.com | July 3, 2015 CHICAGO -- John Danks pitched his best baseball after a low point in his career.

Danks pitched seven scoreless innings and Jose Abreu hit a home run, leading the Chicago White Sox past the Baltimore Orioles 1-0 on Friday night.

The White Sox have won seven of their last 11 games after losing a season-high eight straight.

Danks (4-8) was impressive after getting skipped in the rotation. The left-hander allowed five hits with five strikeouts and two walks. He was 0-4 in his previous four starts with a 6.85 ERA.

"I pitched my way into being the guy that gets skipped," said Danks. "I understand that. My goal is to be consistent, go out there and work my way into being one of the top guys again. My job is when I get the ball is to go deep in the game and give us a chance to win. Hopefully, this will start a nice little run for me."

Danks won for the first time since a victory against Houston on May 31st and last pitched on June 22nd.

"With the extra time, I was able to get on the mound a lot. Both days in St. Louis, Detroit," he said. "I've been working on throwing the ball down in the zone. Changeup has always been my pitch. It was no different tonight. But changeup is no good if I'm not throwing the fastball for a strike. I was able to do that tonight. It made the changeup and the curve that much better."

Jake Petricka pitched a perfect eighth and David Robertson struck out the side in the ninth for his 17th save in 21 chances.

Baltimore has lost four of its last five games. Adam Jones continued to struggle against Danks, going 0 for 3 on Friday, now making him 1 for 33 overall against Danks.

Jones can't pinpoint why Danks has his number.

"I don't know. Trust me, I wish I could answer it," Jones said. "I knew I was struggling off of him, but I didn't know it was that bad. I didn't know I was 1 for 33 off him. He just keeps me off the barrel."

Danks got out of a one-out, second-and-third jam in the seventh. He struck out Caleb Joseph and got Ryan Flaherty to fly out.

"Any time guys got on base, they're not just sitting on one particular pitch. He threw great. Even in the seventh he got in that jam and he's got to go for a strikeout, and he gets it and he gets out of it," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura.

Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez (7-4) pitched seven innings and gave up the one run on six hits. Abreu hit an 0-2 pitch from Jimenez for his 14th home run of the season in the third inning.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Orioles: 2B Jon Schoop, who is on the 60-day disabled list with a right knee sprain, is "very close" to being activated from the disabled list in the coming days, according to manager Buck Showalter. In nine games, Schoop was 7 for 27 with three home runs and seven RBI.

FULMER SIGNS

The White Sox signed right-handed pitcher Carson Fulmer. Fulmer, the No. 8 pick overall in the MLB draft, received a $3.47 million signing bonus.

SALE VS. BUEHRLE

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale was pushed back a day in the rotation. He was originally scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Orioles. Now, the lefty will start against former White Sox ace Mark Buehrle and the Blue Jays on Monday night as the White Sox give Sale an extra day of rest. Sale has struck out 10 or more batters in his last eight starts, tying Pedro Martinez for the major league record.

UP NEXT

Orioles: Chris Tillman (6-7) is the scheduled starter Saturday. He is 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA in four starts against the White Sox.

White Sox: LHP Jeff Samardzija (5-4) will make his second start of the season against Baltimore on Saturday. In his last start against the Orioles he gave up eight runs, seven earned, on 10 hits in five innings.

White Sox sign 'class' first-round pick Carson Fulmer Doug Padilla, ESPN.com | July 3, 2015

CHICAGO -- First-round draft pick Carson Fulmer threw a perfect strike with his ceremonial first pitch Friday, with the Chicago White Sox banking over $3 million there will be more where that came from.

Fulmer, the No. 8 pick overall, agreed Friday to a $3.47 million signing bonus, but will get some time off before reporting to the club’s spring training facility in Glendale, Arizona.

Fulmer’s Vanderbilt club advanced to the College World Series, nearly missing out on the title won by Virginia, and threw 127 2/3 innings this year. That is more than last year’s first-round pick, Carlos Rodon, threw in college and in the minor leagues combined.

“He last pitched on June 22nd, so he is going to have a few more weeks to ease into the professional life,” general manager Rick Hahn said. “Probably not unlike Rondon he will start off in Arizona and throw some innings down there and then we will start running him through the system.”

He might not run too fast, though, with such a high innings total. While the White Sox pondered bringing up Rodon to the major league level last year, the same opportunity might not be there for Fulmer.

“Obviously I think they’ll pay close attention to the innings and how many I throw,” Fulmer said. “I haven’t heard too much about, really, what they want to do. They’ll give me a little time off and then I’ll get back into it.”

For the 21-year-old right-hander it has been a whirlwind year from pitching in his final game at Vanderbilt (a victory at the College World Series) to getting drafted and then signing with the White Sox.

“It’s definitely gone by quick, going to Vandy and experiencing those things was great, developing relationships with some of my best friends,” Fulmer said. “But coming here, I think it’s definitely going to help me moving forward, with the experience I’ve had to pitch in front of big stages and stuff like that. I’m glad to be here. I’m thankful to have this opportunity to be a part of the White Sox, and I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

Fulmer was named SEC pitcher of the year and was named first-team All-America by Baseball America. He went 14-2 this past season with a 1.83 ERA and 167 strikeouts. Opponents hit .180 against him.

“We're looking long-term with this kid,” Hahn said. “Obviously he is an important piece for us for the future. And we're certainly not going to rush him. There is no specific time frame for him to get to the majors. We're just going to respond to his ability.

The White Sox not only like the ability, they like Fulmer’s character as well. As both sides worked out the details of his signing bonus, Fulmer expressed a desire to donate money to the team’s ACE program, designed to help inner-city baseball players explore college possibilities.

One of Fulmer’s Vanderbilt teammates was Ronell Coleman, an alum of the ACE program. Fulmer told Coleman of his plans even before starting negotiations with the White Sox, and he ended up donating $10,000 to the program. “It was just a special opportunity for me to give back, especially with the organization I’m part of now and to help kids that are going through tough situations or just need a little extra help moving forward,” Fulmer said.

Consider Hahn impressed.

“He is a class individual and we're looking to have him for his ability and for his role as a potential leader for this club,” Hahn said.

While Chris Sale made it to the major leagues the year he was drafted and Rodon made it early in the following year after he was selected, Fulmer knows he needs to wait his turn.

“I feel like in certain ways you gotta be patient,” Fulmer said. “Obviously the White Sox have a plan. I’m a part of the organization now, I just have to sit back and try to develop as much as I can as a player and just let them control it.

“All I can go out and do is compete and try to give my team the best chance to win. But in regard to moving up and trying to get through the organization as fast as possible, it’s out of my control and I’m just going to do whatever it takes to help us win.”

White Sox GM Rick Hahn denies conflict with boss Kenny Williams Doug Padilla, ESPN.com | July 3, 2015

CHICAGO -- White Sox general manager Rick Hahn struck down the notion of a front-office rift a week after executive vice president Kenny Williams took responsibility for the team's on-field struggles this season.

The perception began quickly that Williams still sees himself as being in charge of player personnel moves when Hahn is actually the GM, a title Williams held until relinquishing it after the 2012 season.

"It surprises me that how-the-dynamic-works is even a question or an issue at this point," Hahn said. "We were pretty clear at the initial press conference when I assumed this position that Kenny is executive vice president of the organization. He is my boss. I report to Kenny. Just like anyone with a boss, I'm accountable to him for my performance, and he has to approve of what I do."

"He is my boss. I report to Kenny. Just like anyone with a boss, I'm accountable to him for my performance, and he has to approve of what I do," Rick Hahn, above, said. AP Photo/Andrew A. Nelles

Williams traveled with the team to both Minnesota and Detroit on the most recent road trip to get an up-close-and- personal look at the team. While the club was in Detroit, he gave manager Robin Ventura a vote of confidence but also gave the impression that he was the general manager, not Hahn.

"If they are underperforming to this degree as a whole, then I would have to say right now -- and I've told the chairman [Jerry Reinsdorf] this -- no, at the end of the day, it falls on my desk," Williams said last week. "I hired the manager. I hired the general manager."

Williams also told the Chicago Tribune that he takes the calls when Reinsdorf has questions or criticisms and that Hahn had not "graduated to that point yet." Williams meant it more as Hahn being fortunate to not have to answer some of those questions directly yet. Some interpreted it as Williams saying that Hahn is somehow out of the loop or not high enough in the club hierarchy to discuss things with Reinsdorf.

Hahn was in the Dominican Republic for the past week working on the signing of international players and said he got only bits and pieces of what was being said, as well as the controversy that seemed to develop.

He seemed to applaud not only Williams' decision to stick up for Ventura, but also Williams' willingness to accept the responsibility for a disappointing season. The White Sox entered play Friday with the worst record in the American League at 34-42. The White Sox signed both Adam LaRoche and Melky Cabrera to free-agent contracts this winter, and neither has performed at the level expected. They traded for Jeff Samardzija, whose 4.56 ERA is last among qualified starters in the American League. The decision to go with a rookie at second base has yielded minimal returns, and Adam Eaton, who was signed to an extension, has underperformed.

"I think it's admirable when anyone stands up and says the responsibility is on me," Hahn said. "I think you have heard me say this before that is going to be really difficult for me personally not to feel responsible for the performance of this team, good, bad or indifferent. I think you have heard Robin say that he feels responsible for it. I know I saw last week, I saw some quotes from players [taking responsibility] for it, which is good. We are in this together, and we're all trying to get this thing right."

Hahn and Williams have said they don't always agree on every idea or plan put forward, with the resulting discussions only beneficial to the organization.

"I think in any business, you want to have people with different points of view or at least different ways of approaching problem solving and not a bunch of people who are necessarily yes men or fall into line," Hahn said. "It's important to have an environment as I feel we have had here for the last 15 years since I've been here of a free exchange of ideas and a clear opportunity for people to state their mind regardless of title or position in the organization.

"When we are trying to solve a problem, all ideas and opinions are put out there, and we parcel through, and it's a collaborative effort to come up with the best outcome for the organization."

White Sox to give Chris Sale an extra day of rest Doug Padilla, ESPN.com | July 3, 2015

CHICAGO -- Insisting there is no injury concern, the Chicago White Sox will give rotation ace Chris Sale an extra day of rest heading into his next start.

Sale, who can set the major league record for most consecutive double-digit strikeout games in his next outing, is now scheduled to pitch this Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays, one day later than his normal start date after pitching Tuesday at St. Louis.

Rookie Carlos Rodon, who had his last start skipped as the White Sox try to manage his innings total, will now return to the rotation Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles.

“This isn't anything to do with him health-wise, he's not complaining about anything,” manager Robin Ventura said of Sale. “It's just more of being able to give him an extra day. We've done it in the past where whenever we had a chance, we take care of him. And just the way the schedule worked out, we had a couple of off days this week, we can shuffle that around and drop Carlos in there.”

In his start against the Cardinals on Tuesday, Sale struck out 12 batters, the eighth consecutive game he recorded at least 10 strikeouts. Pedro Martinez had eight consecutive double-digit strikeout games in 1999.

Sale was just named AL pitcher of the month for June after going 2-2 with a 1.83 ERA over six starts. His 75 strikeouts in the month were a franchise record, with Nolan Ryan holding the modern-day record of 87 in 1977.

By being moved to Monday’s game against the Blue Jays, Sale will now face off against former White Sox staff ace Mark Buehrle in a battle of left-handers. Buehrle, who won a World Series and pitched a perfect game in a White Sox uniform, is 9-4 with a 3.64 ERA. Sale is 6-4 with a 2.87 ERA.

After 10-day break, John Danks returns to shut down Orioles J.J. Stankevitz, CSN | July 3, 2015 John Danks had his last turn skipped in the White Sox rotation and knew he had to pitch better to help dig his team out of the first-half hole in which they’re currently mired.

With seven shutout innings against Baltimore to pace a 1-0 win Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field, Danks took a step toward his goal of turning around his season — and his team’s fortunes.

“I’ve pitched my way into being the guy who gets skipped. I understand that,” Danks, who went 10 days between starts, said. “My goal is to be consistent, go out there and work my way into being one of the top guys again. My job is when I get the ball to go deep in the game and give us a chance to win. And hopefully this will start a nice little run for me.”

Danks out-dueled Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez in what felt like a turn-back-the-clock night for a pair of pitchers who have fallen from their 2008-2010 primes.

After throwing a 10-hit shutout May 31 in Houston, Danks was rocked in four June starts, posting a 6.85 ERA and allowing 33 hits (five home runs) over 22 1/3 innings. His season ERA spiked to 5.38, the eighth-worst mark for a qualified starting pitcher entering Friday.

Danks didn’t necessarily make any major changes for his start Friday night, though his sparingly used curveball wound up being his best pitch. After throwing his curveball for nine percent of his pitches this season, Danks threw 16 in 93 pitches — a 17-percent rate — and Orioles hitters didn’t put a single one of them in play. He generated five swings and misses on it, and his success with the curveball allowed his fastball to be more effective.

“That was a pretty good pitch for him, especially now that he’s showing not only the ability to throw it for strikes, but to throw it below the zone,” catcher Tyler Flowers said. “It’s definitely a good weapon for him, good change of speed. I think it kind of levels out the playing field as far as his fastball setting up the curveball tandem combo. All of a sudden that 89. 90, 91 has a feeling like you’re throwing 95.”

The result was Danks limiting a Baltimore side that came to U.S. Cellular Field with baseball’s sixth-best team OPS (.741) to five singles and two walks with five strikeouts. The only run support he needed was Jose Abreu's third-inning solo home run.

It wasn’t vintage Danks — he didn’t rely on his curveball much during his best years — but it was another sign that the 30-year-old left-hander is continuing to try different things to regain the effectiveness he lost with shoulder surgery in 2012.

Since the start of the 2013 season, Danks has the lowest WAR (0.7) of any starting pitcher with at least 400 innings pitched, though his issues haven’t been due to a lack of effort.

“It’s been hard to get that velocity back that he had before, you have to be able to adapt and do things, and I think tonight looked a lot better in the form he's trying to create and to be able to locate,” manager Robin Ventura said. “He's not reaching back trying to get anymore. There's enough there to be able to get guys off the fastball or changeup.”

Or the curveball, as was the case Friday. With that pitch working and changing the eye level of Orioles hitters, his fastball became more effective, which in turn helped set up his changeup.

The White Sox have now won three consecutive games — two over the first-place Cardinals and one over the Orioles, who entered Friday tied for first place in the American League East. Last place still has a strong grip on the White Sox with four games until the midway point of the season. But wins breed hope, and this is a clubhouse that still hopes it can navigate the long road back to contention.

“We all have to pull our weight,” Danks said. “That certainly includes me, and maybe even a little more than some of the other guys. I haven’t played as well as I would have liked. I also said that we’ve dug ourselves a deep hole but there’s a lot of the season left.

“If we can start playing consistent baseball, each doing our jobs, we might find ourselves back in this thing.” Extra day of rest sets up Chris Sale vs. Mark Buehrle on Monday J.J. Stankevitz, CSN | July 3, 2015

Chris Sale will get an extra day of rest, having his next start flipped from Sunday against Baltimore to Monday against Toronto. And — not by design — the White Sox decision to push Sale back a day will set him up to face former White Sox ace Mark Buehrle Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

“We didn't do it because of that, but you now notice it,” manager Robin Ventura said. “It could be a quick game.”

With Carlos Rodon having his last turn in the rotation skipped, the White Sox had flexibility in deciding when he could make his next start. That flexibility allowed Ventura and pitching coach Don Cooper to start him Sunday on nine days rest and give Sale five days between starts.

“This isn't anything to do with him health wise, he's not complaining about anything,” Ventura said. “It's just more of being able to give him an extra day. We've done it in the past where whenever we had a chance we'd take care of him. And just the way the schedule worked out, we had a couple off days this week, we can shuffle that around and drop Carlos in and I don't think the extra day is necessarily going to help him because he's had an extended time off.

“It's just being able to take care of Chris. He doesn't care one way or the other. I think if he cared it would have probably been maybe a something little different.”

If Sale strikes out 10 or more Blue Jays on Monday, he’ll set a major league single-season record for most consecutive starts with double digit strikeouts. The 26-year-old left-hander tied Pedro Martinez’s record with eight straight starts with 10-plus strikeouts Tuesday night in St. Louis.

On Thursday, Sale earned American League Pitcher of the Month honors for June, and he’s all but certain to be named to the AL All-Star roster on Monday. But the left-hander, as he’s done all year, deflected attention from his personal accolades and heaped praise on his catcher, Tyler Flowers.

“It's cool. It's something to kick around, talk about, later on down the road,” Sale said. “I definitely appreciate it, people looking at what we've done together with Flow, this past month. There's a lot of hard work that goes into it so it's nice to see that it's paying off for both of us. But like I said before, I'm not going to sit here and be focused on that.

“… I definitely know it's more than people think and (Flowers) doesn't get near the credit he should get because he's the one basically doing all the homework, doing all the studying. He's the brains of the operation. I'm just out there following his lead, really. As much as I'm getting, he should get just as much if not more. He's the driver of the car.”

First-rounder Carson Fulmer gives back after signing with White Sox J.J. Stankevitz, CSN | July 3, 2015

Earlier this year, members of the White Sox front office met with various area scouts to begin discussing who the organization could take with the No. 8 pick in the June MLB Draft. When Carson Fulmer’s name came up, one of the scouts felt he had to remove himself from the discussion less he’d sound biased toward the then-Vanderbilt right-hander’s makeup beyond his baseball skills.

“One of them started talking about Fulmer,” Hahn explained, “and he goes, 'You know what, maybe I shouldn't talk about this guy because I want to evaluate him on strictly on the ability and talk to you in terms of what kind of baseball player he is. But I've know this kid since he was a freshman in high school and I'm so biased by how good of a person he is and how great his character is, and I'm worried that is going to make me over sell it. This guy is great, that's all I'm saying.’”

Upon signing with the White Sox for a bonus of $3,470,600 on Friday, Fulmer quickly proved that scout’s report to be accurate and not hyperbole. Fulmer donated $10,000 of that slot-value signing bonus to the White Sox Amateur City Elite (ACE) program, an arm of Chicago White Sox Charities that provides resources for inner city youths to play baseball. One of Fulmer’s teammates at Vanderbilt — outfielder Ro Coleman — is a product of the ACE program, as is White Sox seventh-round draft pick Blake Hickman.

“I definitely wanted to give back somehow,” Fulmer said. “Coming into an organization that believes in the ACE program, really sticks with it, that was definitely a group I wanted to donate to and give back, especially with the organization behind it all.

“It was just a special opportunity for me to give back, especially with the organization I’m a part of now and to help kids that are going through tough situations or just need a little extra help moving forward.”

Fulmer been in Chicago since Wednesday and has quickly acquainted himself with the city. After throwing out the first pitch before Friday night’s game at U.S. Cellular Field, he’ll head back to his hometown of Lakeland, Fla. — where White Sox ace Chris Sale is from, too — for a mandated rest period before beginning work again in Arizona.

The White Sox expect Fulmer to return to Chicago at some point — he could be fast-tracked to the majors if all goes well — and if he does get back here, Hahn thinks he’ll bring a strong presence to the clubhouse. His donation to the ACE program helped convince Hahn and the organization of it.

“That was 100 percent on his own, he brought up the idea,” Hahn said. “He came up with the idea, he researched it, he said why don't I do this. ... He is a class individual, we're looking to have him for his ability and for his role as a potential leader for this club.”

White Sox in no rush to see if Carson Fulmer can be on fast track J.J. Stankevitz, CSN | July 3, 2015

The first directive Carson Fulmer received upon joining the White Sox was to do nothing.

Fulmer, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, signed with the White Sox on Friday for a slot-value $3,470,600 bonus. The organization thinks the Vanderbilt right-hander has the potential to be put on the major league fast track, but first, they want him to rest up.

In his junior year at Vanderbilt, Fulmer threw 127 2/3 innings (with a 1.83 ERA and 167 strikeouts). The White Sox don’t want to wear out the 21-year-old, who last pitched in the College World Series finals June 22, so they’re going to give him some time off before likely sending him to Arizona to resume baseball activities.

“We'll see how he adapts, there is no rush or no urgency to move quickly,” general manager Rick Hahn said. “He certainly has the talent and the makeup to potentially to move quickly, but at this time it's let's just get him acclimated to pro ball, and adapt accordingly as he proceeds through the system.”

Carlos Rodon reached Triple-A after being taken third overall in 2014, while Chris Sale rocketed through the White Sox farm system and to the major leagues back in 2010. The White Sox feel Fulmer has the makeup and repertoire — a mid- 90’s fastball and plus curveball — to force his way into the 25-man roster discussion.

Fulmer, though, doesn’t plan to focus on the big picture once he starts pitching in the farm system.

“In certain ways you gotta be patient,” Fulmer said. “Obviously the White Sox have a plan, I’m a part of the organization now, I just have to sit back and try to develop as much as I can as a player and just let them control it. All I can go out and do is compete and try to give my team the best chance to win. But in regard to moving up and trying to get through the organization as fast as possible, it’s out of my control and I’m just going to do whatever it takes to help us win.”

Fulmer — who, like Chris Sale, is a native of Lakeland, Fla. — is well aware of the White Sox success developing pitching, which recently has included Sale, Jose Quintana and Carlos Rodon. Not only have all three of those pitchers shown varying levels of effectiveness in their careers, they all reached the major leagues quickly after joining the organization.

Perhaps Fulmer becomes the next prospect to whiz through the White Sox mind league ranks to U.S. Cellular Field. But for now, the White Sox are going to take his development process slow.

“We're looking long term with this kid,” Hahn said. “Obviously he is an important piece for us for the future. And we're certainly not going to rush him. There is no specific time frame for him to get to the majors. We're just going to respond to his ability.”

Levine: White Sox On Brink Of Season-Changing Decisions Bruce Levine, CBS Chicago | July 3, 2015

(CBS) — With 32 wins in the first half of the season, the White Sox must realistically win 53 of their last 81 games to be in contention for a Wild Card playoff appearance.

Reality is a difficult thing to face when you have dug yourself as deep a hole as Chicago has.

If you think winning 70 percent of your games is easy, try to comprehend that the Sox must play on a pace that would equal 106 wins in a season, just to win 85 in 2015.

That pace is not impossible. Consider the 1983 White Sox won 56 games in the second half, to win their division by 20 games that magical portion of that campaign.

It appears the White Sox have the pitching to get the job done. The woeful offense and erratic defense must improve right away in order for the front office to hold off of a fire sale and change of organizational direction.

The ball club has 13 of its next 16 at home. This portion of the schedule will determine what GM Rick Hahn and the Sox front office do before the non-wavier trading deadline comes and goes July 31.

Hahn put everyone on notice Friday.

“We have put ourselves in a position where July is a very important month,” he said. “We don’t have the luxury at this point to continue to give away games or put ourselves in a deeper hole. Everyone in that clubhouse knows it.”

The White Sox won’t say it now or even before they must do it, but free agent players like Jeff Samardzija will be among the most sought-after players on the team. The onus will be on the players to get on a winning run the next three weeks or start packing for new destinations.

“We have spent a lot of time working on contingent moves. We have looked at different paths we could travel. When we do head down those paths I will sit down here and tell you why,” Hahn said.

More than eight clubs have interest in Samardzija, who will apply for free-agent status in November. Toronto and Houston are at the head of the class in their scouting of the 30-year-old pitcher.