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Huge game by confident Danks lifts Sox

It’s a land of opportunity with the White Sox right now, and Jordan Danks is making the most of his chances.

He’s split the past two seasons between the Sox and Class AAA Charlotte, bouncing up and down like a yo-yo.

Danks is back with the White Sox again, and this time the 27-year-old outfielder is playing like he intends to stay for the long haul.

“The way I feel right now, I’m confident,” Danks said after doubling twice before lifting the Sox to a 4-3 win over the Astros with a 2-run single with two outs in the eighth inning Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field. “I’m feeling good at the plate and picking good pitches to hit. I think I can definitely capitalize.”

Danks, the younger brother of White Sox starter John Danks, is now riding a career-best nine-game hitting streak and is batting .438 (14-for-32) with 4 doubles, a home run and 4 RBI during the stretch.

“It’s been nice to see,” manager Robin Ventura said. “He’s been up and down for the last two years, but right now it’s a good run for him since he’s come back up (from Charlotte on July 31). Even from spring training last year, you haven’t seen him swing it this good. He’s maturing and I think he’s learning how to hit up here. It’s different. I can’t really put a finger on what it is. But he does have confidence, he does have a good swing and it’s going from there.”

Danks is expected to be back in the lineup again Wednesday.

“Consistency definitely helps,” Danks said. “You play five, six games in a row and the confidence grows more and more and obviously being comfortable at the plate helps.”

Arizona bound:The White Sox announced pitchers Chris Bassitt, Charlie Leesman, Stephen McCray and Kevin Vance, and infielders Micah Johnson and Marcus Semien are scheduled to play for the Glendale Desert Dogs in the 2013 Arizona Fall League.Leesman made 1 start for the Sox this season, pitching 5 innings against the Twins on Aug. 9 and allowing 1 run on 4 hits and 5 walks. The left-hander had 8 strikeouts and is back with Class AAA Charlotte.Bassitt is 4-2 with a 2.27 ERA in 8 starts with AA Birmingham after opening the season with A Winston-Salem and going 7-2 with a 3.46 ERA.Johnson has combined to steal 83 bases with A Winston-Salem and Kannapolis, the most in the minor leagues.Semien is batting .243 with 4 home runs and 12 RBI since being promoted to Charlotte on Aug. 1, and the shortstop/third baseman has made 7 errors in 26 games.Death in the family:According to the White Sox, Jack Harshman died in Georgetown, Texas, on Aug. 17. He was 86.Harshman pitched for the Sox from 1953-56 and still holds the franchise record with 16 strikeouts in a game.BBA14421953Jordan Danks hits a 2-run single that gives the White Sox a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning against Houston.Associated PressBBA

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