With Konerko out, Viciedo comes through for White Sox

The White Sox want Paul Konerko back in the lineup. They need Konerko back in the lineup.

But while the Sox’ best hitter is sidelined after getting hit in the face by Jeff Samardzija, Dayan Viciedo is getting a chance to play.

That’s not such a bad thing.

“You get Dayan swinging it pretty good,” manager Robin Ventura said after Viciedo sparked the White Sox to a 7-4 interleague win over the Cubs on Saturday night at Wrigley Field. “He was swinging good before. It would be nice to have Paul in there, too. You get Viciedo swinging the bat the way he is, it’s nice to get him in the lineup when Paulie goes out.”

Since there is no designated hitter in National League ballparks, the White Sox used Konerko at first base in Friday’s series opener at Wrigley.

Adam Dunn, the Sox’ regular DH, moved to left field and Viciedo took a seat on the bench.

But when Konerko had to leave Friday’s game in the third inning after being hit, Dunn shifted back to first base and Viciedo took over in left field.

Viciedo was 1-for-2 Friday.

On Saturday, he batted cleanup and put the White Sox in front 1-0 with an RBI single off Ryan Dempster in the first inning.

Viciedo followed with a 2-run homer that landed in the center-field basket in the third inning. Over his last six games, Viciedo is 11-for-23 with 4 home runs and 10 RBI.

“It’s great to get those hits early,” Viciedo said through an interpreter. “I’ve been concentrating a lot more at the plate. For me, it was just great to have two strikes and be able in the first inning to get that hit. It started it off for me.”

Short and sweet:

It’s been a tough early go for Sox starter John Danks, but the left-hander was sharp in Saturday’s outing against the Cubs.

Danks (3-4) got the win after pitching 6¹⁄₃ scoreless innings.

“Yeah, it was good,” Danks said. “Throwing strikes, that’s kind of the main thing. I was able to throw some cutters. I felt like I was getting back to where I want to be. More important than that, I just wanted to stay ahead of them and make them hit my pitches.”

Danks threw only 83 pitches before hitting the showers.

“He just looked tired,” manager Robin Ventura said. “He was pitching fine, but he had that look like he was fatiguing a bit. His velocity was going down. With an off-day coming up, take him out and get some other guys in there.”

Danks was perfect through 4¹⁄₃ innings before Alfonso Soriano doubled with one out in the fifth.

“He threw more strikes and also had a better slider,” catcher A.J. Pierzynski said of Danks. “He made a mechanical adjustment with his slider and had a better changeup.”

Clogging the bases:

Adam Dunn hit his 42nd career home run against the Cubs, a solo shot off left-handed reliever James Russell in the eighth inning.

Dunn also drew 4 walks and reached base safely five times for the 10th time in his career.

“From Day One, I’ve seen the ball pretty good here,” Dunn said. “I feel good. Tonight I didn’t chase too many bad pitches like I had all year. That’s something I’m going to continue to work on.”