Beckham heats up at plate for White Sox

If you tinker long enough, sometimes you get it right.

Gordon Beckham is having another subpar year at the plate, but the White Sox’ second baseman made an adjustment after going 1-for-10 in the weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels.

“It made some sense and helped me slow down a little bit,” Beckham said. “It seems good. We’ll see what happens.”

Good things have been happening for Beckham in the first two games of the Royals series. His home run in the eighth inning Monday night snapped a 2-2 tie and sparked the Sox to a 4-2 victory over Kansas City.

With Alejandro De Aza (back) and Kevin Youkilis (knee) out of Tuesday night’s game, Beckham batted in the leadoff spot and got the White Sox off to a good start with a home run in the first inning.

While he has played Gold Glove-caliber defense at second base all season, the Sox need Beckham’s offensive game to pick up.

“He plays great defense,” manager Robin Ventura said. “But offensively, I think it helps when you’re helping win games and doing things offensively. It feels good as a player.”

Sick bay:Third baseman Kevin Youkilis was scratched before Tuesday#146;s game with a sore right knee, joining center fielder Alejandro De Aza in the trainer#146;s room.Neither injury is believed to be serious, and Youkilis and De Aza could both be back in the White Sox#146; lineup Wednesday night.#147;Hopefully I can go tomorrow,#148; Youkilis said. #147;I#146;ve had some stuff, some aches and pains, for a while. It just go to the point where I needed to slow down.#148;De Aza has missed two straight games with stiffness in his lower back, which resulted from sliding hard into second base Saturday against the Angels.#147;It#146;s stiff a little bit,#148; De Aza said. #147;Certain moves bother me, but I don#146;t think it#146;s anything serious. It just bothers me right now.#148;Alexei Ramirez played Tuesday even though his left hand was badly swollen. The Sox#146; shortstop was hit Monday by a pitch from Royals starter Luis Mendoza.New guy:With Kevin Youkilis unable to play, Ray Olmedo made his White Sox debut and started at third base. Called up from Class AAA Charlotte on July 29 after utility infielder Eduardo Escobar was traded to Minnesota, Olmedo was 1-for-3.Bullpen duty:Philip Humber made his first relief appearance Tuesday after being moved out of the starting rotation. The right-hander pitched a scoreless ninth inning.Humber still is trying to come to grips with falling so fast after his April 21 perfect game at Seattle.#147;It has been challenging,#148; he said. #147;Mentally, there have been some things I#146;ve come along out of the ordinary, and the results I#146;ve gotten on the field at times have been very frustrating to me.#147;I know it#146;s frustrating for the fans, and sometimes I hear their frustrations. But nobody cares more than I do.#148;