July 2012 - Chicago White Sox Wiretap

Paul Konerko hit the 400th home run of his Major League career on Sunday as the White Sox swept the Indians. Factoring in Sunday's 2-for-4 showing, Konerko has raised his average to a Major League-best .399 for the season. He has a hitting streak of 13 games currently. The first baseman is hitting .565 over the last 13 games and the first baseman has 23 hits over his last 36 at-bats with five homers and 14 RBIs in the last 10 games.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura has officially named Addison Reed the team's closer, a development that has been evident for close to three weeks. "He's earned that, and I feel comfortable putting him in there," Ventura said of the rookie reliever. "That's who we'd be using if we're winning." Reed has converted all four save opportunities. "Some nights he's up to 98 (mph) and some nights he's 96, but he's still pretty good," Ventura said of Reed's fastball. "Even when you'd look at him and think he didn't have it, he's got it."

The White Sox defeated the Cubs 6-0 on Sunday to complete a sweep of their in-state rival at Wrigley Field. The last time the White Sox were able to sweep the Cubs at Wrigley was June 11-13, 1999. After that series, the Cubs immediately lost 17 of 22 games to fall from second place to sixth place, which is where they finished the season.

Orlando Hudson says he will sign with the White Sox. The Padres released the infielder earlier this week after a slow start to the season at the plate.

Paul Konerko appears to be OK after getting hit in the eye with a pitch against the Cubs on Friday. The White Sox first baseman was evaluated at Rush University Medical Center and a CT scan showed no damage other than the laceration and swelling. He will be examined again Saturday to determine if he suffers from any post-concussion symptoms.

White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko left Friday afternoon's game in the third inning after getting hit in the head with a pitch by Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija. He left the game under his own power holding a towel to his head.

Kevin Hickey, a veteran of six Major League seasons as a member of the White Sox and Orioles, has died at age 56. Chicago said Hickey died Wednesday at Rush University Medical Center. He had been in intensive care following his transfer from a Dallas hospital last month. A cause of death was not disclosed. Hickey had been the White Sox's pre-game instructor since 2004.

With the White Sox playing the Cubs at Wrigley Field this weekend, Adam Dunn will likely see time in left field. "I'm looking for him to be playing in the field," manager Robin Ventura said, "plus, he'll enjoy the fans out in the outfield. He likes to talk. He likes fan interaction." Dunn is primarily a designated hitter for the White Sox, but in order to be in the lineup he'll have to play the field in the National League park. He hasn't played in the outfield this season, but saw some time during spring training. "I'm going to watch him catching some fly balls during (batting practice)," Ventura said. "The way he's swinging and what he does for our lineup, you need to find a way to get him in there."

Adam Dunn had a good sense of humor when he was informed the record for most consecutive games with a strikeout belongs to him. "Any time you can have a record it's pretty cool," Dunn said. He added: "But to me, I don't want to sound like it's not a big deal because it obviously is, but what matters is more (when you strike out). If you're striking out with men in scoring position, that's bad. If it's with two outs, I'm obviously trying to put a run up." According to Joe Taxiera, author of "A Unique Look at Big League Baseball," Dunn's 36 consecutive games with a strikeout (32 this season before he snapped it Friday night) is the longest streak going back at least to 1918.

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale will undergo an MRI on his left elbow, Sox pitching coach Don Cooper told ESPN Baseball Insider Jim Bowden on his radio show Wednesday.