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Patience finally paying off for Chicago White Sox

The White Sox were unabashedly bashed over the first three months of the season, and much of the vitriol was deserved.

After boosting the payroll from $90 million in 2014 to just less than $120 million this year, expectations were running high.

When the Sox responded by getting swept in a three-game series at Kansas City to open the season followed by a loss in their first game at U.S. Cellular Field to drop to 0-4, manager Robin Ventura instantly found himself answering questions about his job security.

When White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said the "arrow is pointing up" in early June, his sanity was questioned.

But in that same meeting with reporters, Hahn stressed the importance of remaining patient during the marathon season.

"We've seen a lot of clubs make healthy second-half runs and force the issue even later than that, after mid-August, and get themselves right and get hot and get in (the playoffs)," the GM said.

The reaction from the media and fan base was skeptical at best, but it is time to put the hammers back in the drawer.

True, the White Sox are not even a .500 team right now.

But after pounding the Red Sox on Tuesday night at Fenway Park while moving past the Detroit Tigers into sole possession of third place in the AL Central, the White Sox (48-50) have won six in a row and are the hottest team in the league.

Credit the starting rotation for continuing to put the Sox in position to win just about every day.

Jeff Samardzija delivered another gem Tuesday against Boston, pitching 7 or more innings for the 10th straight start. That's the longest streak in the major leagues since the Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw rattled off 17 in a row last year.

Over the White Sox' last seven games, the starting rotation is 5-0 with a 2.37 ERA.

Credit the defense for tightening up.

Tyler Saladino made 2 errors Monday, but he has otherwise been exceptional at third base since coming up from Class AAA Charlotte on July 10 and being thrown right into the fire against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Shortstop Alexei Ramirez has come to life, and, along with second baseman Carlos Sanchez, the Sox' middle infield has been as good as any in baseball the past month.

Most important, the offense finally has perked up, and that's the main reason the White Sox suddenly are looking like a dangerous team.

Give Ventura credit for staying patient with his hitters while facing tremendous heat.

Melky Cabrera has led the resurgence with six straight multihit games, raising his batting average from .260 to .281.

Not only is Sanchez getting it done with the glove, an 11-game hitting streak has boosted his average from .181 to .227.

Adam Eaton, Jose Abreu, Ramirez, Geovany Soto, J.B. Shuck, Saladino, even Tyler Flowers, all are contributing at the plate.

Hahn and Ventura have shown incredible patience up to now.

It may or may not be rewarded, but it looks like the White Sox' roster is going to stay together past Friday's nonwaiver trade deadline.

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