Left-hander Veal finishing 2013 with a flourish

DETROIT -- After being sent down to the Minor Leagues twice this season, left-handed reliever Donnie Veal has made the most of his latest opportunity with the White Sox.

In Veal's last 17 appearances, he's allowed one run on five hits over 9 1/3 innings while striking out 13. For him, it was just a matter of gaining more confidence on the mound.

"I'm throwing more strikes now. I'm just going straight after hitters, I'm not really worried about giving up hits or anything like that," Veal said. "I think earlier in the year, I was a lot more timid, trying to hit more corners and trying to be too fine with pitches instead of just attacking the zone and going right after them."

Veal struggled at the beginning of the season, giving up seven earned runs on 11 hits in 7 1/3 innings by the end of May. He was then sent down to Triple-A Charlotte for nearly two months to work with pitching coach Richard Dotson.

"I got maybe a little technical with some of my pitches and not going after everything," Veal said. "After I got sent down again, I just worked on that attacking, and the results are results and whatever happens, happens. Up to this point, I can attack and be as aggressive as I need to be with my delivery and my pitches, so that's what I've been doing ever since and it seems to be working."