he is eager to see how he will fare on the biggest stage, with

CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana will try to reach double-digit victories for the first time in his career when he takes the mound against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday afternoon.Quintana, 27, has finished with nine victories in each of his past three seasons. He has nine victories once again this season but has failed to obtain career-high victory No. 10 in each of his past two starts.If the White Sox swing the bat like they did Saturday evening, Quintana could be in luck. Chicago (58-64) erupted to score six runs and had 10 hits against the As to even the series heading into Sundays rubber match.Nobody in here has given up, White Sox left-hander Chris Sale said. We have too much pride in ourselves and what we do. When you look around this clubhouse, we have some pretty good guys, guys that compete. At the end of the day, thats all you can ask for.Oakland (53-70) has dropped four of its past five series but has a chance to win two out of three games at U.S. Cellular Field. The As have lost 10 of their past 15 games and 16 of their past 24.The As could be without designated hitter Billy Butler, who did not play Saturday because of an illness. Butler was sent back to the team hotel because he felt nauseated and was vomiting.I doubt hell be ready to play (Sunday), Oakland manager Bob Melvin said.That will leave slugger Khris Davis and the rest of the As offense to try to solve Quintana.In his past eight starts, Quintana has posted a 4-1 record with a 2.21 ERA. He is 0-0 with a 3.51 ERA in four career starts against the As.Poor run support has dogged Quintana throughout the season. The White Sox have averaged 3.13 runs during his starts, which is the lowest mark for any starter in the American League. The only pitcher in the majors with worse run support is Atlanta Braves right-hander Julio Teheran (2.77 runs per start).Oakland will counter with right-hander Zach Neal (2-2, 5.19 ERA), who will make his fourth start of the season.Neal has fared well in the bullpen this season, but he has yet to find his groove in the starting rotation. In 10 relief appearances, he is 1-0 with a 3.15 ERA. In three starts, he is 1-2 with a 7.98 ERA (13 earned runs in 14 2/3 innings).The 27-year-old rookie has not yet faced the White Sox.When hes pitching well, he keeps the ball down, Melvin said. There is subtle movement both ways with his sinker and his slider. He throws just enough off-speed, whether its a little bit of a curveball or a changeup to speed you up and slow you down. But for the most part, its the late action on his sinker and his slider.Oaklands Danny Valencia carries a six-game hitting streak into Sundays series finale. Valencia has batted .480 (12-for-25) during his hitting streak with two doubles, a home run and three RBI. Perhaps the most striking thing about Andile Phehlukwayo, the fast bowler who has been picked in South Africas ODI squad for the series against Ireland and Australia, is where he has come from. Not the place, the position.Phehlukwayos mother is a domestic worker on the Kwa-Zulu Natal south coast. Her employers provided for Phelukwayos early education by sending him to a primary school in Margate, where he played mini-cricket and hockey. His talent shone so brightly that he was awarded a scholarship to Glenwood High School in Durban, 130 kilometres and a whole world away.It was hard to leave home but I knew it would be better for my future. My mom explained to me that it was a good opportunity and it was not something she would ever be able to afford financially, Phehlukwayo told ESPNcricinfo.At high school, Phehlukwayo excelled in both sports and enjoyed them equally. It was only when he began to think of playing sport professionally did he have to make a decision. I liked the environment in cricket and in hockey, so it was tough to pick one, he said. I knew hockey would maybe not be as financially supportive as cricket but that wasnt really the main reason I went for cricket. I just thought cricket would have more opportunities in every way.Almost immediately, he was proved right. At 17, Phehlukwayo was selected in South Africas Under-19 squad to play in a quadrangular series in India in October 2013. It was his first foreign trip, and he loved it. Without cricket I dont think I would have been seen different countries and different people.On the field, Phehlukwayo had an average outing. He took five wickets in five matches and scored 44 runs in four innings with the likes of Yaseen Valli and Kagiso Rabada stealing the spotlight. Then there was also the personal disappointment of the Under-19 World Cup in 2014.Rabadas rise and South Africas win overshadowed the one game Phehlukwayo played, against Canada. But he gained in other ways. I made a lot of friends and learnt a lot off field, about team dynamics and contributing to the team even when you are not playing, he said.Phehlukwayo may have gone largely unnoticed, but his potential hadnt. He was included in the Dolphins squad the following summer on a high-profile assignment. He travelled with them to the Champions League T20 in India, but failed to impress. In total, Phehlukwayo bowled just four overs in the tournament and managed 74 runs in four innings. He admits to have felt out of depth because he was playing with a high-school mentality of see-ball, hit-ball.Two years later, Phehluukwayo seemed to have realised his early promise.dddddddddddd He was Dolphins leading wicket-taker in last seasons twenty-over competition with 12 wickets in as many matches at 21.75. There, he earned the reputation of being able to control the end overs. His death bowling earned the Dolphins a place in the final, even as call-ups to South Africas A team to play England, Zimbabwe and Australia followed.I took to death bowling with the backing of the coach and my team-mates. I worked on things like slower balls and yorkers. Its a challenge not everyone can do, Phehlukwayo said. Its a lot about preparation and execution and it doesnt always go your way - well it doesnt always go my way but I like to be in that situation where its win or lose and I am the guy in there.The responsibility of seeing a game through is not just confined to the shortest format. In an unofficial Test in Zimbabwe, Phehlukwayos career-best five for 62 bowled South Africa A to victory and he finished South Africa As leading wicket-taker in the quadrangular fifty-over series in Australia.Phehlukwayo also regards himself as a genuine allrounder and wants to add to his solitary first-class fifty when the opportunity presents itself.For now, he has another chance he has to take. Phehlukwayo is as nervous as he is eager to see how he will fare on the biggest stage, with the South Africa senior team, come the Ireland and Australia ODIs. Id like to test myself at that level and see what I need to do in those situations. I have a lot to learn.What he already knows is that as a black African player, at a time when transformation is high on the South African sporting agenda, he will come under the microscope for different reasons. Already questions have been asked about why he has been picked so early but for him, it is a chance to become a role model.As young black players, we will have to understand that we are examples, and that our performances and our consistency will be looked at, he said. At the same time, we cant put too much pressure on ourselves because that can also affect you as a player. We want to do well for our country.His responsibility extends beyond the needs of the nation though. Ultimately, for Phehlukwayo, performing well is personal, perhaps as personal as it gets. It doesnt make my heart very happy that my mom is still a domestic worker. Hopefully if I do well, I will play more games and then she can get out of that situation. ' ' '