Garcia gets start as Ventura seeks spark

OAKLAND -- After his team's slow offensive afternoon in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the D-backs, White Sox manager Robin Ventura hinted he might be making some lineup changes in an effort to spark his club.

For Monday's series opener against the A's, switch-hitting Leury Garcia received his first start of the year as the leadoff man against Oakland righty Jesse Chavez.

"He can make stuff happen and that's just part of having him up there," Ventura said. "Hopefully he can get something going, steal some bases and kind of create situations that other guys can't."

Garcia earned the starting nod in center field, where he only played one inning this year entering Monday's contest. Ventura said he wants to get more at-bats from the 23-year-old, even if it means moving some players around in the outfield and benching Moses Sierra, who has batted .364 (8-for-22) in his first six contests with Chicago.

Sierra was picked up off waivers from the Blue Jays on May 3, the same day center fielder Adam Eaton (strained right hamstring) was placed on the 15-day disabled list. After going 4-for-4 with a double against the Cubs on May 6, Sierra started the next five games in right field.

"He's athletic," Ventura said of Sierra. "We got him over here and we're hurting when things are going down and you're trying to find someone. His first game, I think he had four hits or something like that. He's filled in and done a good job."