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Much has changed for streaking Chicago White Sox

When the White Sox limped out of U.S. Cellular Field last week with a 42-50 record after losing 5 of 6 to the Royals and Cardinals, raise your hand if you thought they'd have a shot at returning home with a .500 record.

Then, proceed directly to Liars Anonymous.

The Sox looked like a team with no shot to contend when they flopped against Kansas City and St. Louis coming out of the all-star break, and they were widely viewed as sellers in advance of Friday's nonwaiver trade deadline.

Much has changed.

The defense finally caught up to the White Sox' stellar pitching, and now the offense is running full throttle.

Add it all up, and the Sox have won seven straight on their trip to Cleveland and Boston.

With ace Chris Sale on the mound against the Red Sox tonight at Fenway Park, the red-hot White Sox have a better than average shot to return to the Cell at 50-50.

Do the White Sox suddenly become buyers?

Looking at the rumor mill, all is quiet on the White Sox front when it comes to adding players before Friday's 3 p.m. (Chicago time) deadline.

A.J. Pierzynski is reportedly being shopped by the Braves and the Sox could use some help at catcher.

But they have expressed limited or no interest in Pierzynski since he left the White Sox as a free agent following the 2012 season.

Considering they have won seven in a row and 12 of 18, don't be surprised if general manager Rick Hahn does nothing.

Starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija has long been viewed as the most likely Sox player to go, but he desperately wants to stay.

"I've said for a long time I really enjoy this team," Samardzija told reporters Wednesday. "I love how we play the game and I always thought that things that didn't go well were strictly performance based. It was on-field play and bounces here and there, and when that's the issue it's a good problem.

"You know that you need to put a little harder work in, pay a little closer attention on the field and then things will turn around.

"If it's chemistry or other random things, that's tough to deal with. I think the problems we had were all fixable. The personality and everything in clubhouse has been great."

The White Sox are only 2.5 games out of the second wild-card spot and Samardzija likes the way they are positioned.

"I think we have the team to win," he said. "We've shown that when we play the way we can play, we can rattle off a lot of games in a short amount of time. That's a big factor in how a team performs. Can they win back-to-back games and put streaks together, which means you have depth, your bench is strong and you are pitching real well? When you can prove that, that says a lot about our team."

Roster move:

Injured in Tuesday night's game against the Red Sox, White Sox infielder Emilio Bonifacio was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a left oblique strain.

Infielder Leury Garcia was recalled from Class AAA Charlotte to take Bonafacio's roster spot.

In 45 games with the Sox this season. Bonifacio is batting .169 with 4 RBI.

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