Floyd aims to get going as White Sox host Orioles

Gavin Floyd tries to string back-to-back wins together this afternoon when the Chicago White Sox close out a four-game set with the Baltimore Orioles at U.S. Cellular Field.

After losing his season debut, Floyd beat the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, as he scattered three hits over six scoreless innings to lower his earned run average to 3.09. However, he did walk three batters and was bailed out by three double plays in the first four innings.

"He took advantage of our aggressiveness," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said of Floyd. "We had some real bad at-bats, to be honest with you."

Floyd has faced the Orioles seven times and is 4-2 against them with a 3.56 ERA.

Baltimore, meanwhile, will counter with righty Jason Hammel, who is 1-0 and has pitched to a 2.08 ERA this season. Hammel did not get a decision in his team's 6-4 win on Saturday in Toronto, but pitched well, surrendering two runs and six hits in five innings.

He is 0-1 lifetime versus the White Sox with a 3.86 ERA in six games (two starts).

On Wednesday, Jake Peavy tossed seven innings of one-run, four-hit ball and the White Sox picked up an 8-1 win.

"He just brings the level up and the other guys feed off of that," remarked White Sox manager Robin Ventura about Peavy.

Peavy (2-0) fanned eight hitters and did not surrender a walk for the White Sox, who finished with 11 hits. Adam Dunn knocked in three runs, A.J. Pierzynski added a two-run shot and Alejandro De Aza also went deep for Chicago, which had dropped the first two games to Baltimore.

Tommy Hunter (1-1) was charged with all eight runs in the loss after giving up nine hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. Adam Jones smacked a double and scored the only Baltimore run on an RBI double from Endy Chavez.

Baltimore split its eight games with the White Sox last season, but was 3-1 in the Windy City.