The New York Yankees will have Hiroki Kuroda on the mound as they host the visiting Chicago White Sox Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. ET.
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Via ESPN:
New York (73-64) scored eight times in the fourth inning en route to a 9-1 win in Monday's series opener for its 11th victory in 13 home games. Derek Jeter had a run-scoring single to stop an 0-for-14 slide and had two RBIs, while Alfonso Soriano drove in his 37th run in 35 games since being acquired from the Chicago Cubs.
Determined to make a statement, the Yankees, who are in contention for the AL's second wild card, improved to 16-8 since being swept in a three-game series against the lowly White Sox (56-80) in Chicago last month.
"We've played better, there's no doubt about it. We've added a few pieces here since we played," manager Joe Girardi said. "I feel a lot better."
Girardi would probably feel even better if Kuroda (11-10, 2.89 ERA) would break out of his funk.
Kuroda shut down the Los Angles Angels on Aug. 12 to win his team-best 11th game and lower his ERA to 2.33, the best in the rotation. He has lost each of his three starts since, however, posting an 8.10 ERA while allowing opponents to hit .382.
The right-hander has permitted career highs of seven runs in each of his last two outings, and lasted five innings in Wednesday's 7-2 loss to Toronto.
"To not have my stuff at this stage of the season is pretty frustrating," Kuroda said through a translator
Perhaps if there is any reason to believe he can turn things around it is each of Kuroda's last three starts have come on the road. He has pitched significantly better at Yankee Stadium, going 7-2 with a 1.54 ERA -- the lowest in the AL. He carries a 20-inning scoreless streak in the Bronx into this outing.
Of course, facing the White Sox could also help.
Chicago has plated 12 runs while batting .220 during a four-game losing streak, and is the AL's lowest-scoring team with 514 runs. No. 2 hitter Gordon Beckham is mired in a 2-for-23 slump and cleanup hitter Adam Dunn is 1 for 17 in his last five games.
