White Sox place Jesse Crain and Paul Konerko on Disabled List

CHICAGO - Prior to tonight's game vs. Baltimore, the Chicago White Sox placed right-handed pitcher Jesse Crain (right shoulder strain, retroactive to June 30) and first baseman Paul Konerko (lower back strain) on the 15-day disabled list, recalled third baseman Brent Morel from Class AAA Charlotte and purchased the contract of left-hander David Purcey from Charlotte.

Crain, who turns 32 on July 5, has gone 2-3 with a 0.74 ERA (3 ER/36.2 IP) and 46 strikeouts in 38 games with the White Sox in 2013. He leads American League relievers in ERA, ranks second with 19 holds, tied for seventh in appearances and ninth in strikeouts. Crain set a franchise record by making 29 consecutive scoreless appearances from April 17-June 22.

            Konerko, 37, is batting .249 (63-253) with seven home runs and 30 RBI in 67 games this season. He returned to the lineup last night vs. Baltimore after missing the first six games of the homestand with the back injury. It is Konerko's third trip to the disabled list in 15 seasons with the Sox.

            Morel, 26, is batting .283 (71-251) with 20 doubles, five home runs and 40 RBI in 68 games with Charlotte this season. He also was with the Sox from June 26-28, going 2-9 (.222) in three games (two starts).

            Purcey, 31, is 0-2 with a 3.03 ERA (13 ER/38.2 IP), three saves and 43 strikeouts in 26 relief appearances with Charlotte in 2013. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Purcey recently was named to represent the International League at the Triple-A All-Star Game on July 17 in Reno, Nev.

            Purcey, a former first-round draft choice of Toronto in 2004, is 6-12 with a 5.38 ERA (108 ER/180.2 IP) and 151 strikeouts in 87 games (21 starts) over parts of four major-league seasons with the Blue Jays (2008-11), Oakland (2011) and Detroit (2011). He was signed by the White Sox as a free agent on November 15, 2012.