Streak's alive for Ordonez

Magglio Ordonez extended his hitting streak to 16 games--best inthe American League this season--with a sixth-inning single Sunday. He can match his career-best streak with a hit today in the White Soxhome series finale.

"Maggs is one of those guys you take for granted," manager JerryManuel said of the right fielder, hitting .296 and leading the teamwith 15 RBI. "You look for something exciting to help the team inevery at-bat.

"It's good to see he's getting the hits and playing consistentlyin the outfield. You look to give him a day off, but I wish I couldgive him innings off instead."

During the streak, Ordonez is hitting .313 (20-for-64).

The other streaking Sox is second baseman D'Angelo Jimenez, whose3-for-4 game marked the 15th consecutive game he has reached base.Jimenez also has an eight-game hitting streak in which he is hitting.485 (17-for-35), lifting his average to .379, and he leads the teamwith seven multihit games.

"Carlos Lee is starting to come back, and Paulie [Paul Konerko].If we can get two of those three guys [Ordonez, Lee and Konerko]hitting with Jimenez the way he's swinging, we should be all right,"Manuel said.

STREAK ENDS: The other side of streaks for the Sox saw FrankThomas fail to reach base on Sunday, his first game this season inwhich he hasn't reached base.

CATCH THIS: The Sox ranked last in the AL last season in stoppingrunners from stealing, throwing out only 22 percent (28-of-127). Sofar, that trend has improved dramatically, with Sox catchers havingthrown out half of attempted runners (5-of-10). That 50-percent rateis tied with the New York Yankees for the league's best mark.

Sandy Alomar Jr. has thrown out 2 of 4 runners, Josh Paul is 1-for-3 and rookie Miguel Olivo 2-for-3.

Olivo's progress is especially encouraging for the Sox. He had athree-hit game Saturday.

"The thing you look for in a young catcher is if he goes unnoticedbehind the plate," Manuel said. "He's doing a good job if therearen't a lot of balls getting by and there's not a lot of activityback there and the game is moving along. That makes us happy.

"It's big for anyone to get three hits in a game, and he had beenstruggling offensively. He has enough strength and speed that heshouldn't struggle for long. He could be a good force for us in that[eighth] spot in the order."

TRY AGAIN: Jon Garland will try for his first victory of theseason today in the conclusion of the homestand. Garland will makehis fourth start and second at home. He had a no-decision in his lastouting against Kansas City though he allowed only one run on threehits through seven innings.

Garland, 23, is only 1-6 lifetime against the Indians with a 6.59ERA.

QUIET, PLEASE: The Sox held their annual Dog Day event Saturdayfor the eighth year. The popular promotion that drew 500 caninesrequired one special concession from the Sox--a muffled scoreboard.

In the past, the exploding scoreboard has caused problems for theanimals because of sensitive canine hearing. So on Saturday,Ordonez's fourth-inning homer and Lee's in the eighth were honoredwith the showy high-aerial fireworks instead of the louder, low-level boomers.