Eaton eager to get back in White Sox lineup

Another key White Sox player is on the comeback trail.

A day after ailing ace starter Chris Sale breezed through a 60-pitch simulated game, center fielder Adam Eaton said his strained right hamstring has responded positively to three days of complete rest followed by intensive treatment.

Eaton said he will be ready to come off the disabled list Sunday and play at Houston.

"It felt good today, it really did," Eaton said after going throwing a morning workout. "I'd say 95 or 98 percent effort. We are right where we want to be. I'm no doctor, but I would say that it's definitely on its way. Talking to (trainer) Herm (Schneider) and talking to the guys, the feeling that I have within the legs is normal."

Eaton is tentatively scheduled to play three rehab games with Class AAA Charlotte beginning Thursday before coming off the DL.

The Sox have missed Eaton's bat in the leadoff spot, and they've really missed his outfield defense.

"Really excited to see him back," bench coach Mark Parent said. "He adds a lot to our lineup, defensively and offensively and running the bases, just overall energy in the game. He's obviously had a really good year, so we want to continue his progress.

Gordon Beckham, Alejandro De Aza and Marcus Semien have hit first since Eaton went down, but they are more effective lower in the order.

"De Aza never really was comfortable doing it before," Parent said. "And then we tried Beckham there, he's … even though you're only leading off one time it makes certain people uncomfortable. Adam, he just loves that spot, and we like him in that spot."

Parent sounds off:

On the subject of poor baserunning, which the White Sox were guilty of all last week, bench coach Mark Parent said it's basically common sense.

"It seems like when we're down we have guys, just like last year, trying to do to much instead of just do what you're supposed to do," Parent said. "Let the scoreboard dictate. We don't need to give up outs on the bases. It's one base at a time."

Noesi comes through:

Even though he got only 1 run of support Sunday, Hector Noesi fared pretty well in his third start for the White Sox in place of the injured Chris Sale.

Noesi tried to keep the Sox in the game while allowing 3 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings.

"Well, I love to start," said Noesi, a reliever with Texas at the start of the season before being released. "I think I'm getting better every day. The changeup, slider, everything was working today."