5 things to watch: Jeff Samardzija looks to keep streaking vs. Yankees

The White Sox conclude their weekend series against the Yankees at 1:10 p.m. Sunday and are looking to win their first series against a winning team since taking two of three from the Cubs July 10-12.

Here are five things to watch:

1. Jeff Samardzija has worked at least seven innings in 10 consecutive starts, which marks a career-high and the best in baseball this season. The last Sox pitcher to go 10 straight starts of seven innings was Mark Buehrle from Sept. 4, 2004 through April 21, 2005. Jack McDowell was the last Sox pitcher to go seven innings in 11 or more starts. He went 12 straight from July 11-Sept. 6, 1993.

2. Melky stays hot: Melky Cabrera is hitting .433 (26 for 60) with nine doubles, three homers, 18 RBI and a 1.220 OPS in his last 14 games. His season totals are now just about in line with his career averages:

Melky this season: .285/.325/.403

Melky career: .286/.337/.414

3. Jose Abreu is riding a 12-game hitting streak, and Adam Eaton is carrying a 10-game hitting streak into the game.

4. Samardzija owns a 7.71 ERA and .367 opponents average in the first inning this season. He’s allowed a first-inning run nine times. But Chicago is outscoring opponents in the first inning 18-4 in the last eight games.

5. Power stroke: The Sox have homered in five straight games and hit 19 homers during the last 14 games. They’ve hit seven multi-homer games since July 1 after having just four in June.