Valencia at Sox Series Results 
05/30/40: Valencia Stars @ Chicago Black Sox - Win, 1-3.
Black Sox Come Back Late to Top Stars
W: A. Moelling (5-2) L: D. García (1-1) S: P. Bure, Jr. (8).
HR - VAL: W. Rivera (8)
05/31/40: Valencia Stars @ Chicago Black Sox - Win, 0-6.
Nicto Sensational for Black Sox
W: J. Nicto (6-2) L: G. Profit (4-5) .
HR - CHI: T. Cochran (10), J. Lorenzen (4)
Game 1 Notables: Amayas Moelling pitched well enough to keep Valencia back on its heels, while shortstop Santiago Morales delivered a critical 2-run single in the bottom of the 8th inning to give Chicago the W … Moelling threw 8.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits with 3 Ks and 0 walks. PQS score: 3 … Player of the Game: Amayas Moelling … Cliché of the Game: “We’ll pop the top on a cold one tonight and get back to work tomorrow,” Moelling said.
Game 2 Notables: Starter Juan Nicto pitched an outstanding game that allowed Chicago to sweep the short series from Valencia and clinch a winning (3-2) week … Nicto threw 8.2 innings, allowing just 2 hits and 0 runs while striking out 4 and walking 1. PQS Score: 4 … DH Tommy Cochran went 2-3 with a home run, 2 RBIs and 1 run … 2B Rocky Wattson had a nice game at the plate, going 2-4 with a run scored to climb back over the Mendoza line for the season (.202) … Player of the Game: Juan Nicto … Cliché of the Game: “We cashed in when we had the chance,” said Manager Bret Richards.
In Sum: Taking this series was key, because it meant back-to-back winning weeks, and a return to the “green” for Chicago’s season run differential (+4) after a precipitous drop during that disastrous 0-6 skid in early May. The Sox now sit three games under .500, but evened their record for the month (13-13 in May). So far, what success the Sox have had is thanks to their pitching (3rd in overall ERA in the Frick, 5th for starters’ ERA and 6th for bullpen ERA) and defense (2nd in the Frick for both defensive efficiency and zone rating). The bats are still inconsistent, but Cochran is providing a much-needed spark. The coming week will be key as Chicago plays 4 against division rival Des Moines and then 3 against another Heartland foe, Twin Cities. Des Moines is tied with the Black Sox and the River Monsters are just three games back, so this will not be a good week to falter. Stay tuned.