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Danks solid as Sox snap five-game skid

While he has no idea where the White Sox are going, starting pitcher John Danks knows where they've been — a bad place.

After going 8-19 in June and falling out of contention, the Sox are bracing for the upcoming nonwaiver trade deadline.

Until general manager Rick Hahn decides if he's going to ship out players, the White Sox are just going to focus on the game at hand. The plan worked well Tuesday night in a 5-2 win over the Orioles at chilly U.S. Cellular Field.

“We know how good we are, and we know we have a (heck) of a road ahead,” Danks (2-5) said after pitching 7 innings and allowing 2 runs on 6 hits. “We did this to ourselves. We just hope we're able to do it, starting now.”

Danks has gradually been making progress after missing a full year due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. The 28-year-old lefty looked a lot like his old self while containing a potent Baltimore lineup in the opener of a three-game series.

“John was great tonight,” second baseman Gordon Beckham said after going 3-for-4 a driving in a run. “The last two starts, you've really seen John Danks and the John Danks that we knew. It looks like he's really starting to feel better after his injury, so that's an awesome sign.”

Conor Gillaspie helped the Sox snap a five-game losing streak with a solo home run in the sixth inning, and Adam Dunn stayed hot with a 2-run homer in the seventh.

Peavy update:Injured starting pitcher Jake Peavy threw his first bullpen Tuesday since going on the disabled list in early June with a fractured rib. Pitching coach Don Cooper liked the #8220;light to medium#8221; session.#8220;He did very well,#8221; Cooper said. #8220;It was better than I thought it was going to be. We reacquainted ourselves with the stretch, full windup, he located his fastballs everywhere, changeup, threw a couple sliders, threw a couple cutters and threw some curveballs.#8221;Peavy is scheduled to throw off the mound again Friday at Tampa Bay.#8220;No problems today,#8221; Peavy said. #8220;I'm just trying to get my arm back in shape and it felt pretty good.#8221;Konerko returns:After missing the past six games with a sore lower back, Paul Konerko returned to the White Sox' lineup Tuesday and was 0-for-4 with 2 strikeouts.On Friday, Konerko thought he was headed for the disabled list, but six painkilling injections and a good cage session Saturday changed his mind.#8220;Rest was good at beginning, but you get sore from sitting or laying around,#8221; Konerko said. #8220;It's good to go move around. That's where I'm at, air it out.#8221;BBA10491692Adam Dunn watches his two-run home run in the seventh inning of the White SoxÂ’ victory over Baltimore on Tuesday.Associated PressBBA

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