=== Around the Majors - Wednesday, June 25 ===

By Eric Gold, MLB Editor

Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - The Chicago White Sox are in the thick of the American League Central race not because of their offense, but due to one newcomer on the mound.

The White Sox snapped an eight-game losing streak at the Metrodome Tuesday night. Magglio Ordonez wasn't the hero. Neither was Frank Thomas or Carlos Lee, even though both of them drove in a run during the 2-1 triumph.

Jerry Manuel's team is second-to-last in hitting in the American League, as the White Sox are batting just .243 this season. Chicago is also next to last in the AL in run production.

The success of the White Sox this season is being driven mostly due to a pitcher who was a non-roster invitee to the team's spring training camp this year. Esteban Loaiza, who was left out in the cold in the offseason by several major league clubs, has found a home in Chicago and has become the talk of the Windy City.

The 31-year-old Loaiza won his 11th game of the season on Tuesday night to push his record to 11-2 this season. Loaiza, who leads the majors in ERA for starters (1.99), allowed six hits and an unearned run over eight innings Tuesday night in a victory over the Minnesota Twins.

Loaiza has been spectacular in several departments this year. He is 6-0 with a 1.55 ERA on the road and has already matched his career-high in victories, set in 1997 with Pittsburgh and 2001 with Toronto.

"I'm really excited now, getting my 11th win, tying my career high," Loaiza told the Daily Southtown after Tuesday's game. "Going after the 11th win every year, it seemed like there were only two weeks left in the season or so. We haven't even gotten to the middle of the season yet. I just want to go out and keep competing."

Loaiza's 11-2 start is the best for a Sox pitcher since Jason Bere had the same mark in 1994. It would seem Loaiza is a strong candidate to start the All-Star game, which coincidentally will take place on July 15th at U.S. Cellular Field. The righthander would become the first White Sox pitcher to start the mid-season classic since Early Wynn in 1959.

"I just want to do the best job possible," Loaiza told the Daily Southtown. "If I get selected to go to the All-Star Game I'll be excited. Even just to pitch in the game; but it's not my decision."

NL WEST GETTING COMPETITIVE AGAIN

The National League West belonged to the San Francisco Giants early in the season. Felipe Alou's club won 13 of its first 14 games and bolted out to a large advantage in the division, but now the race has tightened up and the Dodgers aren't the ones putting the pressure on the Giants.

Despite injuries to star pitchers Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson, third baseman Shea Hillenbrand and second baseman Junior Spivey, the Arizona Diamondbacks are in the thick of the division race. Righthander Jose Valverde has done an admirable job filling in for injured closer Matt Mantei.

These are the same Diamondbacks who started the season by losing 11 of their first 14 games. Now they are above .500 and following this weekend's interleague series against the Detroit Tigers, Bob Brenly's team will have a wonderful opportunity to climb higher in the standings as they'll play 14 straight games against NL West foes leading to the All-Star break.

"We have a lot of guys swinging the bats well right now," Brenly told the Arizona Republic. "We're doing it top to bottom. That's what we did last year and the year before. It's a good blueprint for winning."

Another team making noise in the NL West is the Colorado Rockies, who have one of the best home records in the majors but have struggled on the road this season. Yet, Colorado has won two straight road series and entering play Wednesday, the Rockies had won four in a row overall. They'll also get a big opportunity to get closer to the top in the division with a big stretch of games upcoming against the Diamondbacks, Giants and Dodgers.

"What this is a step in the right direction," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle told the Rocky Mountain News.