Third to first

• After catching 126 strikes out of 217 total pitches thrown during the nine-inning loss on Wednesday, A.J. Pierzynski was back behind the plate for Thursday's series opener against the Rays.

Pierzynski has reached 1,000 innings caught for the 11th straight season, extending the longest active streak in baseball, while producing a career-high 27 homers and sitting one RBI short of matching a career high of 77. Through all the work, the 35-year-old and free-agent-to-be continues to feel strong.

"I feel great, physically," said Pierzynski, who is tied for fifth in the Majors with 123 games caught. "For catching as many games as I catch and as many years as I've been doing it, I feel as good as I can possibly feel. Hopefully, there's an extra month in there that wears me out."

• White Sox television play-by-play announcer Ken "Hawk" Harrelson missed Thursday's contest with flu-like symptoms. Mike Huff replaced Harrelson in the broadcast booth.

• Robin Ventura said a White Sox starting pitcher for Sunday's home finale has not yet been determined by the staff. Francisco Liriano and Jose Quintana are both options. The White Sox also have not set their three-man rotation for the regular season's final series in Cleveland.

• The White Sox began their celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on Thursday night with a pregame ceremony, during which Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and the Secretary's Hispanic Liaison Ernesto Martinez presented Alex Rios with a distinct recognition as part of the month's activities. Rios, a resident and native of Puerto Rico who played for Puerto Rico in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic, is in his third year with the White Sox.

• Jake Peavy has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 13 of his 15 home starts this season.

• The White Sox are hitting .123 (9-for-73) with runners in scoring position and have left 68 runners on base in their last 10 games.