TORONTO—Backed by a five homer barrage, Francisco Liriano earned his first win with the White Sox.Alex Rios hit a three-run homer against his former team, Liriano snapped a six-start winless skid and the White Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 on Thursday night.

“He’s a big acquisition,” Rios said of Liriano. “If he keeps doing what he’s been doing lately, he’s going to make us so much better and that’s what we need right now.”

Tyler Flowers, Dayan Viciedo, Alexei Ramirez and Dewayne Wise all hit solo home runs as the White Sox matched a season high by going deep five times. The Sox have hit 28 home runs in its past 13 games. The power surge helped the Sox win its first series in Toronto since 2006.Manager Robin Ventura said his players were “giddy” with celebration at the rare series win at Rogers Centre, none more so than A.J. Pierzynski.

“It means a lot,” Pierzynski said. “I know coming here since I’ve been here it hasn’t been real productive or successful. It’s just nice to come in here and win a series.Given the time of year and the situation we’re in where every game means so much, to come in here and win three out of four is huge,”.

Viciedo and Flowers hit consecutive long balls in the fifth inning, the eighth time this season the White Sox have gone back-to-back.Liriano (4-10) allowed two runs and three hits in 6 1/3 innings to win for the first time since July 6 at Texas, while pitching for Minnesota. The left-hander, who walked one and struck out six, was traded to the Sox on July 28.Liriano came in 0-3 with a 5.09 ERA in five career games against Toronto, but kept the Blue Jays in check after a two-run, three-hit second inning, retiring 13 straight batters in one stretch.

“It’s been kind of up and down the last month,” Liriano said. “I felt pretty good tonight. Physically I feel very good. Location-wise, pitching-wise, it was a good night.”

Crain got two outs, Brett Myers worked the eighth and Philip Humber finished.Trailing 2-0 on Moises Sierra’s second home run, the Sox halved the deficit in the third when Wise hit a one-out drive to right, his fifth of the year and second in two days.The White Sox took the lead in the fifth when Viciedo led off with his 19th homer and second in two days, and Flowers followed two pitches later with a towering drive into the fourth deck in left, his fourth.It was the fourth time this season the Blue Jays have allowed back-to-back home runs.The White Sox broke it open with a four-run eighth. After Youkilis singled and Adam Dunn walked, Rios drilled his 19th home run, connecting off Darren Oliver. One out later, Ramirez launched a second deck homer off Brandon Lyon, his sixth.Aaron Laffey (3-4) allowed three runs and three hits, all homers, in six innings to lose for the third time in four starts.

“Tonight, as has been the case in this series, we were plagued by the long ball,” Farrell said.

Blue Jays pitchers gave up 10 home runs in the four game series.Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion was scratched from the lineup with pain in his left shoulder and wrist after a diving play in the outfield Wednesday. Encarnacion has made just three appearances in the outfield this season.

NOTES—The Sox last series win at Rogers Centre came when they took two of three in August, 2006. … Toronto OF Jose Bautista (left wrist) hit in the cage Wednesday and is expected to take batting practice on the field Saturday and Sunday. If all goes well, Bautista could begin a minor league rehab assignment Monday. … Blue Jays 3B Brett Lawrie (strained right oblique) is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Class-A Dunedin on Saturday and could be activated off the DL in time to return Tuesday when Toronto opens a three-game series at Detroit. … With Gordon Beckham getting a day off and Orlando Hudson (toe) nursing an injury, Ray Olmedo made his first start at second base since Sept. 30, 2006. Hudson left Wednesday’s game after fouling a ball off his left foot. …Alejandro De Aza was given the day off………..A male fan died in a hospital after going into cardiac arrest at Thursday’s game.Play was halted for four minutes in the seventh inning while the fan received CPR and was carted off on a stretcher. Ambulance sirens could be heard outside the stadium as the fan was carted off, still receiving CPR.Following the game, Toronto Police Services confirmed the fan had died in a hospital after collapsing. The name of the fan was not released.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the person who was taken out of here tonight,” Blue Jays manager John Farrell said.

White Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis was the first player to notice the commotion in the stands, and alerted umpire Mark Wegner to what was going on.

“I saw some medics jump out around the dugout and run over,” Youkilis said. “Then I saw a doctor or whoever was going, just pushing on the chest over and over and over. I thought maybe they were reviving him and then the next thing you know, they kept going and going. I was like `God, man. We’ve got to stop this thing.”‘

Wegner approached second base ump and crew chief Mike Winters after Moises Sierra hit a foul ball down the right-field line, and the game was stopped to allow a cart to come onto the field and carry the fan off through the left field gate.Blue Jays players left their dugout to watch as paramedics pumped the man’s chest repeatedly. Jesse Crain, who was on the mound at the time, was left shaken by the episode.

“I said a little prayer for him after everything started going again,” Crain said. “You don’t ever want to see that.”

This was the second time this season a fan received CPR at a Blue Jays game; it also happened June 29.

TORONTO—The White Sox never had much of a pleasant history in Toronto. Life is good in the present, however, on the AL Central leader’s latest trip north of the border.Adam Dunn hit his major league-leading 34th home run, Dayan Viciedo and DeWayne Wise also connected and the White Sox beat the Blue Jays 9-5 on Wednesday night, posting consecutive victories in Canada for the first time in six years.

“The goal is to win every series and with a win tonight we can put ourselves in that position tomorrow,” Dunn said.

The White Sox remained two games in front of Detroit atop the Central after the Tigers won at Minnesota earlier in the day.Kelly Johnson hit a three-run homer and Jeff Mathis hit a solo shot for the Blue Jays, who have lost seven of nine and 13 of 17.Gavin Floyd pitched six innings to snap a three-start winless streak as the White Sox won consecutive games in Toronto for the first time since Aug. 4-5, 2006. The Sox came in having lost 16 of its previous 20 games at Rogers Centre.Floyd (9-9) came in 0-3 with an 8.25 ERA in three career games at Toronto, but turned that around by allowing three earned runs and eight hits.Floyd’s last loss in Toronto came in May, 2011, when he coughed up a 14th inning homer to Corey Patterson. But the veteran right-hander said he’s already forgotten the rest of the Sox forgettable history here.

“The only thing I remember is coming out of the bullpen last year and getting a loss,” Floyd said. “I don’t really remember too much other than that. I just try to live in the present. Whether you win or lose, everything else is in the past. You’ve just got to focus on the present.”

Floyd walked none and struck out eight, one shy of a season-high.

“Gavin came out throwing strikes,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “He was great early on. He made the one mistake to Johnson but he pitched great, he looked good.”

Donnie Veal worked two innings and Philip Humber finished, giving up Mathis’ 7th homer of the season.A.J. Pierzynski singled to begin the second, extending his hitting streak to 16 games, the longest active streak in the major leagues. Alexei Ramirez and Viciedo followed with singles to load the bases for Wise, who hit a sinking liner down the left field line. Making just his third appearance of the season in the outfield, Edwin Encarnacion dived for the ball but dropped it as he hit the ground in foul territory, giving Wise a two-run single.Wise doubled the lead with a two-run blast to right in the fourth, his fourth, matching a career-high with four RBI.

“He plays good defense, does a lot of different things,” Ventura said of Wise. “He’s a solid player.”

Toronto’s Omar Vizquel had two hits, including a leadoff single in the fourth that was the 2,866th of his career, tying him with former White Sox slugger and current first base coach Harold Baines for 43rd on the career list.After moving to second on Anthony Gose’s single, Vizquel stole third and scored when Kevin Youkilis failed to cover the bag, trotting home after Pierzynski’s throw hit him and bounced into foul territory.The Blue Jays tied it in the sixth when Encarnacion singled, David Cooper doubled and Johnson hit a one-out homer to right, his 14th.The Sox wasted no time in reclaiming the lead. Ricky Romero left after walking Alejandro de Aza and hitting Youkilis with a pitch to open the seventh. Dunn broke the tie by crushing reliever Brad Lincoln’s third pitch into the second deck in right.Dunn said he expected a fastball after Lincoln fell behind 2-0, and got what he was looking for.

“I didn’t care what the pitch was, I just wanted to make sure it was on the plate,” Dunn said. “I didn’t want to go chasing stuff like I’ve been doing.”

Before the inning was over, the White Sox widened their lead when Pierzynski doubled and scored on a two-out homer by Viciedo, his 18th.

Floyd called the quick five-run outburst “amazing.A.J. kind of joked `We’ll get them back,’ and shoot, we put a five-spot up,” Floyd said. “It’s exciting. This team, offensively and even pitching, we can battle with the best of them.”

The White Sox have hit 22 homers in their past 12 games.Romero (8-10) allowed six runs and eight hits in six-plus innings. The left-hander has not won since June 22 at Miami, a span of 10 starts, and is 0-9 in that stretch.Toronto outfielder Colby Rasmus returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Friday, when he left with tightness in his right groin. Rasmus, who collected a pinch-hit single in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s 3-2 loss, started as designated hitter. He went 0 for 5 with four strikeouts.Making a rare start in place of regular second baseman Gordon Beckham, Orlando Hudson had to leave the game after fouling a ball of his left foot in the sixth. Beckham came on to finish the at-bat and remained in the game. Hudson bruised a big toe. X-rays were negative and he will be reevaluated Thursday.

NOTES—Paul Konerko (concussion) hit in the cage and played catch Wednesday, and remains on track to come off the 7-day DL on Friday. … Blue Jays C J.P. Arencibia (fractured right hand) had his cast removed Wednesday and is now in a soft cast. He’s due to resume swinging after a week of strengthening activities. … Toronto RHP Jason Frasor (forearm) is throwing from 120 feet on flat ground and is scheduled to throw off the mound next week. … Blue Jays 1B Adam Lind (back) continues to feel soreness after swinging. Lind has been out since July 26.

David DeJesus has been haunted all season by unfavorable winds at Wrigley Field.He got the best of the Friendly Confines on Wednesday.DeJesus hit two home runs, Justin Germano breezed through six innings and the Cubs beat the Houston Astros 7-2 to win the three-game series.Asked how many home runs he thinks he’s missed out on this year, DeJesus, who now has four on the season, couldn’t help but grin.

“The other day when I hit one against Bronson [Arroyo] and it was caught at the wall, I came running in and [manager Dale Sveum] was like `You should have at least 10 right now,”‘ DeJesus said. “So when your manager’s saying that, I’ll take 10.”

Starlin Castro also homered among his three hits for Chicago, which won for just the third time in 15 games. The Cubs avoided falling to a season-worst 26 games under .500.Astros starter Bud Norris left the game after being hit in the left foot with a line drive in the fourth inning.DeJesus’ third-inning homer was his first in 54 career games at Wrigley Field. And he didn’t waste any time notching his second career Wrigley homer, blasting the first pitch of his next at-bat out to center field.

“He finally hit those kind of balls when the wind was blowing out a little bit,” Sveum said. “He’s been snakebit on balls like that when the wind is blowing in. It’s nice to finally see him get a couple.”

He tied a career best with four hits and drove in three runs, reaching base five times. Astros reliever Chuckie Fick was booed in the sixth for intentionally walking DeJesus with runners on second and third.Castro hit a two-run shot in the third, his 12th of the season, as Norris failed to win for a 13th consecutive start.Norris (5-10) allowed six runs on eight hits over 3 1/3 innings and hasn’t won since May 21.Following DeJesus’ second homer, Josh Vitters hit a liner up the middle that deflected off Norris’ foot toward the third base bag. After two warm-up pitches, Norris bent over, shook his head toward the team trainer and exited the game. He was diagnosed with a left foot contusion.

“I knew with my landing foot it wasn’t going to be pretty,” Norris said. “I’m glad I came out because I didn’t want to hurt it any worse than it was.”

Germano (2-2) cruised through six innings before getting into trouble in the seventh. He was removed after giving up a single and a walk. James Russell entered in relief and loaded the bases, but escaped the jam giving up just one run.Germano was charged with two runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six, including the side in the fourth.He adjusted to the conditions quickly after Scott Moore’s home run leading off the second inning.

“I wasn’t really aware of it until that ball went out, I thought it was a fly ball off the bat,” Germano said. “It was a reminder that I had to be more aggressive down in the zone. The wind, you don’t really know what’s gonna happen.”

Moore’s homer was his second in as many days. He had three extra-base hits in Tuesday’s 10-1 win.Jose Altuve had three singles for Houston, but Marwin Gonzalez followed by hitting into a double play all three times.The Astros, owners of the worst record in baseball, have dropped 26 of their last 29 road games and are 12-48 away from home this season.Brett Jackson tied the game at 1 with a two-out triple in the second inning. The low liner skipped past center fielder Brandon Barnes and Castro trotted home from third.It was Jackson’s first career RBI. He also doubled in the sixth. The 24-year-old has struggled since being called up from Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 5. He was just 4 for 28 with 16 strikeouts before the triple.

NOTES—The Cubs fired vice president of player personnel Oneri Fleita. Fleita had been with the organization since 1995.. Astros RHP Francisco Cordero flew to Miami to complete his U.S. Citizenship. Cordero has been on the 15-day disabled list since Aug. 3 with a sprained toe ligament. He was acquired from Toronto on July 20.. After an off-day Thursday, Travis Wood (4-8, 4.52 ERA) pitches the series opener for the Cubs in Cincinnati against the Reds’ Bronson Arroyo (8-7, 3.95).. Dallas Keuchel (1-4, 5.29) will start for Houston at home on Friday against Arizona’s Wade Miley (12-8, 3.02).

TORONTO—Addison Reed wasn’t about to let another win slip out of Jose Quintana’s grasp Tuesday.All three of Reed’s blown saves this season have come in games started by Quintana, including two in the past month as Quintana suffered through a five-start winless stretch.Quintana worked 6 2/3 innings for his first win in more than a month, Reed earned his second four-out save of the season and the White Sox held off the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 Tuesday night for a rare victory at Rogers Centre.

“It kind of meant a little more,” Reed said of his 21st save in 24 chances. “I was trying to get [Quintana] the win today. It was nice to settle it up for him.”

The AL Central leaders won in Toronto for just the fourth time in 20 games dating to 2007.

“It was good for us, a big win,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.

Quintana (5-2) allowed two runs and eight hits to win for the first time since July 5 against Texas.

“He’s a tough kid,” Ventura said. “He pitched great.”

Brett Myers got one out in the seventh, Matt Thornton retired two batters in the eighth and Reed ended the inning by fanning pinch hitter Yan Gomes with a runner at third.Ventura called the four-out save is “something you don’t normally do,” but Reed had no problem handling the job.

“The longer I’m out there, the more fun I have with it,” Reed said. “Anytime I can go out there for four outs, I’m more than happy to do that.”

The Blue Jays have lost 12 of their past 16.Ventura juggled his lineup, moving Alex Rios into the third spot, shifting Adam Dunn from third to cleanup and dropping Kevin Youkilis from second to fifth. Dewayne Wise hit second.Ventura said the changes were an attempt to decrease his team’s reliance on home runs, but the result was a lineup that had just seven hits, all singles.

“I was just happy to piece it together without actually hitting a home run,” Ventura said.

Toronto struck quickly against Quintana, with Yunel Escobar hitting an RBI single in the first. The Blue Jays added one more in the third when Rajai Davis doubled, stole third and scored on Edwin Encarnacion’s groundout.The Sox took the lead with a three-run third, starting with RBI singles from Alejandro De Aza and Wise. De Aza then scored from third when pitcher Henderson Alvarez overthrew David Cooper on a pickoff play at first.

“When I’m on base, I try for any chance to get to the next base,” De Aza said. “I took a good, good jump, I read the ball very well. I didn’t think there was going to be a play.”

The error was the second of the game for Alvarez.

“That’s just one of those that’s a gift,” Ventura said. “We’ll take it.”

Toronto loaded the bases with one out in the fifth but Encarnacion lined out to Youkilis at third, who threw to second to double off Davis and end the inning.

NOTES—When Toronto rookie Moises Sierra broke his bat fouling off a ball in the third, the jagged broken barrel flew into the seats behind the third base dugout. The bat landed in an aisle and no one was hurt. Sierra broke another bat when he grounded out in the eighth. … Blue Jays OF Colby Rasmus (right groin) was scratched from the starting lineup and replaced by Mike McCoy. Rasmus delivered a pinch-hit single in the ninth and was replaced by pinch runner Omar Vizquel. … Paul Konerko (concussion) rode an exercise bike Tuesday, his first activity since going on the seven-day DL last week. … Toronto signed C Jeff Mathis to a two-year, $3 million contract with a team option for a third year and signed C Yorvit Torrealba to a minor league deal. Torrealba will report to Double-A New Hampshire. … Farrell said OF Jose Bautista (left wrist) felt no pain after swinging and hitting off the tee Monday. Bautista has not played since July 16. … Blue Jays RHP Brandon Morrow (strained left side) allowed three hits in 4 2/3 scoreless innings in a rehab start at Double-A. He walked none and struck out six. … Actor Charlie Sheen, in town to play in Joe Carter’s celebrity golf tournament, took batting practice before the game and threw out the first pitch.

Brett Wallace and Fernando Martinez each hit three-run homers to back Lucas Harrell’s eight strong innings and the Houston Astros beat the Cubs 10-1 on Tuesday night.Harrell (10-8) scattered six hits and struck out six, helping the Astros win for only the third time in their last 28 road games. Harrell has allowed two runs or fewer in all seven of his starts since the All-Star break.Scott Moore added a solo shot and double twice for a career-high three extra-base hits. Jose Altuve doubled twice and had three of Houston’s 13 hits.Chris Volstad (0-9) lasted just five innings, allowing eight hits and four runs in his latest bid for his first big league win since July 10, 2011. He hasn’t won in his last 23 starts and is approaching the major league record of 28 held by Cliff Curtis, Matt Keough and Jo-Jo Reyes.Volstad fell to 0-14 with a 5.51 ERA during his winless skid.Darwin Barney drove in the Cub’s run with a fielder’s choice in the seventh.The Cubs have lost 12 of 14 and matched their season high by falling 25 games under .500, their worst record since finishing the 2006 season 30 games below break-even.Harrell retired the first eight Cubs before Volstad singled with two outs in the third, his first hit of the season. Harrell induced two double plays and nearly got a third when Barney just beat Tyler Greene’s relay in the seventh, allowing Starlin Castro to score.Harrell got plenty of support in Houston’s biggest offensive outburst since scoring 11 runs at U.S.Cellular Field on June 10 against the White Sox. Houston had scored just 11 runs combined in its last six losses on the road.Wallace’s homer to dead center in third gave Harrell an early cushion. Martinez’s drive to almost the same spot in the sixth broke the game open. It was Martinez’s first homer of the season. He was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.Houston’s five-run sixth was inning aided by Castro’s error on a sure double-play ball, his 18th miscue of the season. He tied Pittsburgh third baseman Pedro Alvarez for the most errors in the majors.Moore doubled in Altuve in the first to open the scoring and kick off his best night as a big leaguer. Moore, who broke into the majors with the Cubs in 2006, doubled and scored in the sixth and hit a solo homer to right in the seventh.

NOTES—Astros manager Brad Mills said RHP Francisco Cordero (sprained ligament in toe) likely won’t return until Sept. 1. … The Cubs announced that Albert Almora, their top pick in June’s draft, had been promoted from rookie league Mesa, Ariz., to Class-A Boise. Almora, 18, hit .347 with one homer, 13 RBIs and five steals in 18 games for Mesa. … Dale Sveum said Matt Garza had not been ruled out for the season, but was still more than a week away from resuming throwing.

Brian Urlacher has barely been seen in training camp this month as he deals with a mysterious knee injury. It probably goes back to the sprained MCL and PCL he suffered in last year’s season finale — he didn’t have surgery at the time — and after practicing the first few days of training camp in July, his knee swelled and he hasn’t been on the field since.

And it might be a while before we see him again, as the team announced the Bears linebacker underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his left knee. The team says his goal to play in the season opener is unchanged, but you have to think those odds just got a little worse.

According to Chicago Tribune, Urlacher had the surgery Tuesday.

Fox-32 TV asked Urlacher last week if he had arthroscopic surgery for his knee problems and if that’s why he was gone from the team earlier this month for what the Bears deemed personal reasons. He denied it, and then he was asked by host Lou Canellis if he could have the surgery and return to the team in two weeks.

“I don’t know,” Urlacher said. “I am just going to keep resting right now. I have never had a scope. I don’t know how that stuff works. This is the first time I have ever done anything to my knee so I am kind of new to this. I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know how that works.”

Urlacher ran some at practice Monday, and after that point, the team must have decided that the surgery was the best option for him.

“I just think I did a lot of movements I hadn’t done in a long time and being out there for 2 ½, three hours probably doesn’t help, running around,” Urlacher told Fox, via the Tribune. “But it’s practice. You gotta do it. I think just the shock of being out there so long and doing so many movements like that was too much for my knee.

“It is hard but there is a fine line between pushing it and easing into it, which is what I need to do. I just gotta get back out there for Sept. 9. Even if I just practice the week before, I’ll be in good enough shape to make it through those games. But I gotta be out there when the games count.”

Which is what he’s been saying all along.

“September 9 I’ll be ready to play,” he said last Sunday, via Rapid Reporter Gene Chamberlain. “I’m pretty sure.

“That’s really all that matters to me. Preseason games and all these practices, I’d love to be out there, but I’m not going to put myself in jeopardy and miss the first game.”

TORONTO—Moises Sierra was so excited, he wrapped up his postgame media scrum by shaking hands with every reporter gathered around his locker.As introductions go, Sierra is having a superb one with the Toronto Blue Jays.Sierra went 2 for 3 with a walk, boosting his average to .375 in 11 games since being promoted from Triple-A on July 31, including four multi-hit games.

“It’s hard right now, it’s hard because it’s my first time here,” Sierra said. “I’m not very experienced and a little nervous.”

Hard? Sierra is making it look easy.

“The one thing he’s shown in the short time he’s been here is he’s got good plate coverage,” manager John Farrell said. “The bat stays in the zone and he’s able to hit some pitches away from him, as we’ve seen a number of times.”

Rajai Davis popped out to open the 11th before left-hander Leyson Septimo came on to replace Jesse Crain. After Septimo (0-2) walked Johnson on four pitches, Ventura brought in Nate Jones to face Edwin Encarnacion, whose single moved Johnson to third. Cooper followed with a liner that bounced just in front of a hard-charging Alex Rios in right, scoring Johnson easily.The White Sox have lost four of six, but Detroit’s loss at Minnesota kept they two-game lead atop the Central intact.

“Tough night,” White Sox All-Star right-hander Jake Peavy said. “You want to win. We need a win coming down the stretch and at the start of a road trip like this.”

Adam Dunn hit two home runs, including a game-tying shot in the ninth inning, boosting his major league-leading total to 33. It was his 32nd career multihomer game and second this season.

“Besides Adam, we didn’t really get anything going, didn’t look fluid or anything,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “We have to get something else going besides waiting for home runs.”

Steve Delabar (3-1) struck out six batters in two innings to earn the win.Delabar struck out four in the 10th, the first time a Blue Jays pitcher has accomplished the feat and the first time in major league history it has happened in extra innings. White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers, the second batter of the inning, struck out swinging but reached on a passed ball.With the Sox trailing 2-1 to begin the ninth, Dunn tied it by swatting Casey Janssen’s first pitch over the wall in left, giving him 1,000 career RBIs.For Janssen, the blown save was his first since April 14 against Baltimore, snapping a streak of 15 successful conversions.
Dunn’s first homer was a mammoth 469-foot shot off the roof of the restaurant in center field in the fourth.

“Dunn makes the park look like a Little League field every time up,” Farrell said.

The drive was the longest home run at Rogers Centre this season. Encarnacion hit a 467-foot homer against Cleveland on July 14.Toronto opened the scoring in the third when Anthony Gose was hit by a pitch, moved to second on Johnson’s two-out walk and scored when Encarnacion followed with a single to right.Sierra restored Toronto’s lead when he opened the seventh with a homer to left-center off Peavy, the first of his career.

“It was a good pitch, changeup down and away,” Flowers said. “Sometimes they guess right and I think that’s what happened.

Toronto right-hander Carlos Villanueva allowed one run and five hits in a season-high seven innings. He walked one and matched his career-high with eight strikeouts.Peavy allowed two runs and five hits in eight innings, lowering his ERA to 3.04. He walked two and struck out six. But the All-Star right-hander lost for the eighth time in his past 11 starts, largely because he seldom gets enough offensive support.The Sox have scored just 26 runs in Peavy’s past 11 starts.

“This is kind of the underlying theme with my season,” Peavy said.

Kevin Youkilis returned to the lineup after sitting out Sunday’s win over Oakland with soreness in his left arm and right knee. He went 0 for 4 and struck out twice.

NOTES—Paul Konerko cleared a battery of post-concussion tests Monday and will resume physical activity Tuesday…..The Sox recalled LHP Donnie Veal from Triple-A Charlotte. He replaces OF Jordan Danks, who was optioned to Triple-A Sunday…..Toronto OF Jose Bautista (left wrist) swung the bat and hit off the tee before the game. For Bautista, it was his first activity since Aug. 1, when he was shut down with lingering pain……Flowers caught, with A.J. Pierzynski starting at DH….Blue Jays RHP Brandon Morrow (strained muscle in his left side) will make two more minor league rehab starts before rejoining the team, Farrell said. Morrow has already made three rehab starts and will make his fourth on Tuesday at Double-A New Hampshire…..The White Sox have hit 20 homers in their past 10 games.

Jeff Samardzija did the pitching, teammate Matt Garza did the counting.Samardzija struck out a career high-tying 11 in seven innings and the Cubs beat the Houston Astros 7-1 on Monday night.Samardzija (8-10) allowed one run and four hits. He also fanned 11 at Atlanta on July 2.After striking out the side in the fourth, he fanned Jason Castro leading off the fifth for his fifth consecutive strikeout.

“I knew I was on a good run in middle of the game, but Garza came up to me after the game and said, ‘Can’t get that elusive 12.’ Whatever. He has a way of letting me know. If anyone is not paying attention, he is.”

Darwin Barney and Alfonso Soriano hit two-run homers and Anthony Rizzo had four hits for the Cubs who won for just the second time in 13 games. The Astros have lost 25 of its last 27 road games.The crowd of 31,452 was the smallest of the season at Wrigley Field.The Astros, who have the worst record in the majors, got their run on the first career homer by rookie Brandon Barnes, a pinch-hit shot in the sixth.Armando Galarraga (0-3) was tagged for five runs and seven hits.

“Two home runs cost me the game. Believe it or not, it was a better start than the last couple. I threw more strikes, threw everything I wanted to. I just missed those two. Soriano, it was the first pitch. He got me. The first one hurt because it was a bad pitch,” Galarraga said.

Samardzija came into the game with the second-lowest run support in the majors at 3.19. The Cubs had scored two or fewer runs for him in 11 of his last 12 outings.

“Sure. It’s something to think about when a teammate is out there battling, picking up quality starts and you’re not scoring any runs for him,” Barney said.

Starlin Castro led off the Cubs second with a single and two outs later, Barney hit his sixth homer.

“The big thing in the second inning was the inability to make some pitches. We had Castro 0-2 and he singled to start that rally. Then Barney hit the two-run homer, and the second home run from Soriano really put us in a hole,” Astros manager Brad Mills.

In the third, Rizzo singled home Josh Vitters to give Samardzija a three-run cushion.After Rizzo singled in the fifth, Soriano hit his 21st home run.Welington Castillo had an RBI infield single in the seventh and Vitters drove in Barney with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.Barnes, called up from the minors on Aug. 7, homered in his fourth big league game.

NOTES—Lucas Harrell, Tuesday’s scheduled starter for Houston, will try for his 10th win of the season. He ranks first among NL rookies in innings pitched. … Cubs starter Chris Volstad will try to win his first game since July 10, 2011, on Tuesday. He has not won in 22 starts. … Astros C Jason Castro was back in the lineup after missing nearly a month with a right knee contusion. He was 1 for 4 and struck out three times.

Chris Sale got into trouble in the fifth inning, allowing back-to-back, two-out singles against the Oakland Athletics. Then the White Sox left-hander escaped the jam with his 10th strikeout.Sale struck out 11 in 6 2/3 innings, A.J. Pierzynski had a two-run home run in a five-run sixth inning, and the White Sox beat the A’s 7-3 on Sunday.Sale (14-3) reached double digits in strikeouts for the third time this season. He had 10 strikeouts through the first five innings, allowed two runs on solo homers, and walked none.The White Sox lead the Detroit Tigers by two games in the AL Central.

“He was throwing a little harder today than he has in the past few outings,”  Robin Ventura said. “He was able to dial it up whenever he needed it and still was sharp with his slider, too.”

Oakland starter Bartolo Colon (9-9) allowed six runs — five earned — and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out two and walked two. With the game tied 1-1 in the sixth, Pierzynski’s 23rd homer put the White Sox up 3-1.Dewayne Wise, in his first start with the Sox this season, added an RBI single. After A’s left fielder Yoenis Cespedes committed an error, and Colon issued an intentional walk, Gordon Beckham delivered a bases-loaded, two-run single to make it 6-1.The A’s struggled defensively, making three errors and failing to cover home in the seventh when the White Sox added their final run.Pierzynski scored from first on Alexei Ramirez’s groundout to shortstop as third baseman Adam Rosales and shortstop Cliff Pennington bumped on the play. No one covered home plate.

“They’re going to give you something, you’re going to go ahead and take it,” Ventura said. “A.J. is heads up and he kept going. There was nobody there. Usually guys rotate around.”

Sale allowed home runs to Rosales, his second of the year, and Jonny Gomes, who added his 14th. Gomes has homered in three straight games. Derek Norris homered off Addison Reed in the ninth.Sale improved to 7-2 with a 1.80 ERA at U.S. Cellular Field this season.

“One thing he does great, he changes speeds tremendously,” Pierzynski said. “One can be 95 [mph] and the next can get be 86. That’s why he gets a lot of groundballs. That’s why he gets a lot of popups because guys are constantly off balance because of his stuff and his ability to change speeds.”

The Sox took a 1-0 lead on Adam Dunn’s sacrifice fly in the third. The A’s hit back-to-back, two-out singles in the fifth, but Sale escaped the jam with his 10th strikeout. Sale was checked in the fifth inning after he twisted his left knee slipping on the infield grass while trying to field an infield single.

After warmup tosses, he remained in the game.

“Everything was fine,” Sale said. “It was just something crazy, foot went one way, knee went the other. Kind of nervous at first, and once I got around and moving on it, everything was fine.”

Pennington made two errors, but also had two singles against Sale.

“It wasn’t our best defensive day,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. “The play was embarrassing, obviously, when Pierzynski went all the way around. [Catcher Norris is] trying to cover third when the third baseman and shortstop converge.

“You either have to read that and get back or the pitcher has to rotate around and get home. We didn’t cover that very well, so that doesn’t sit very well with anybody.”

NOTES—White Sox 1B Paul Konerko will undergo a concussion-related test on Monday. If the results are encouraging, the 36-year-old player can resume baseball activities Tuesday and be activated from the 7-day disabled list as early as Friday….Kevin Youkilis (left arm, right knee) was out of the lineup and is day-to-day. He was hit by a pitch in the arm on Saturday. “It’s not a fracture or anything, but it’s swollen and it doesn’t feel too good,” Ventura said…..The White Sox optioned OF Jordan Danks to Triple-A Charlotte and will make a corresponding roster move on Monday. Ventura said the team will add a reliever…..A’s 3B Brandon Inge will fly to Oakland to have an MRI on his dislocated right shoulder. He was out of the lineup Sunday after he was injured on a diving play Saturday. Inge, who said he felt sore, hopes to return to the lineup Tuesday after Monday’s off day…..The A’s switched their Wednesday and Thursday probable starters against Kansas City, scheduling Brandon McCarthy for Wednesday and Dan Straily for Thursday. McCarthy (shoulder) returned from the disabled list on Friday.

Johnny Cueto’s season just keeps getting better.Cueto pitched three-hit ball for eight innings, Jay Bruce and Ryan Ludwick homered and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Cubs 3-0 Sunday.Cueto (15-6) moved into a tie with New York’s R.A. Dickey for the NL lead in victories. He retired the Cubs in order in four of the first five innings.

“I was feeling really good with all my pitches,” Cueto said. “I was locating my pitches really well.”

Back in the lineup after sitting for two games because of a recent slump, Bruce hit a two-run shot into the right-field bleachers in the fifth off Brooks Raley (0-2). Ludwick connected with a drive to left in the sixth.Aroldis Chapman earned the save for the third game in a row, his 28th of the season. Chapman has converted 20 straight saves and hasn’t allowed a run in 21 2/3 innings since blowing a save on June 24.

“He’s got a good work ethic,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “He wants it and he concentrates. He has a heck of an idea what he’s doing and he’s as tough as anybody I’ve ever had on my team.”

The Reds have won three straight after snapping a season-worst five-game losing streak on Friday. Cincinnati’s 22-8 record since the All-Star break is best in the majors.
In his second big league start in place of injured right-hander Matt Garza, Raley retired the first 13 Reds. He allowed five hits and three runs over six innings after giving up eight hits and seven runs in his first outing at San Diego.The Cubs have lost 10 of 11, with seven of those losses by two or fewer runs. The Cubs have been shut out four times since July 31.Cueto, a leading NL Cy Young candidate, has allowed three runs or fewer in 20 of 24 starts and lowered his ERA to 2.45.The Cubs put runners on the corners with one out in the sixth, the only time they had a runner reach third base. Cueto escaped the threat by getting Anthony Rizzo on an inning-ending double play.

“He was in trouble quite a few times, but got a couple key double plays,” Baker said. “Johnny got behind quite a bit but he managed to get back into the count which is the sign of a good pitcher that you can get out of trouble. That was. a nice shutout for Johnny.”

Raley matched Cueto in the early innings, not allowing a baserunner until Todd Frazier singled with one out in the fifth. Bruce followed with his team-high 22nd homer of the season.

“[Raley] had a no-hitter, perfect game and Frasier got a big hit to put him in the stretch for the first time in the game. and then Jay got us on the board,” said Baker. “That was all the offense we needed with Johnny pitching the way he was.”

“Frazier I thought hit a good pitch,” Raley said. “You make a 2-0 mistake to Bruce, he makes you pay. That’s part of the game. Obviously I’m still learning, got a lot to learn.”

Frazier, who singled twice and scored, went 9 for 15 with six RBI in the four-game series.Bruce entered the game 0 for his last 12 with seven strikeouts. He sat out games on Friday and Saturday after Baker said his funk was “like being in quicksand.”
Ludwick drove in his 20th run in his last 15 games, including six in the four-game set against the Cubs. Since teammate Joey Votto was injured on July 15, Ludwick is hitting .341 with eight homers and 27 RBIs in 25 games.

NOTES—Veteran Luis Valbuena started at third base for the Cubs for the second straight day. Manager Dale Sveum said that recent callup Josh Vitters would begin seeing more playing time at 3B, perhaps starting all three games in Chicago’s upcoming series against Houston. … Cincinnati CF Drew Stubbs struck out three times for the second straight day. Stubbs has whiffed three or more times 11 times this season. … Cincinnati improved to 19-8 since 2010 NL MVP Votto injured his knee, increasing its lead in the NL Central from one game to 4 1/2 over the Pirates. … Cubs rookie Brett Jackson singled for the first hit off Cueto, breaking an 0 for 13 skid.