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White Sox-Royals Preview

May 30, 2009 - 4:44 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Chicago (21-25) at Kansas City (23-24), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Alexei Ramirez helped lead the Chicago White Sox to an AL Central title in 2008. After a slow start this year, he's starting to heat up again and so are the White Sox.

Chicago can wrap up a fourth straight series win Saturday as its three-game set with the Kansas City Royals continues following an easy victory in the opener.

Ramirez finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting last season after hitting .290 with 21 homers and 77 RBIs. He got off to a disappointing start in 2009, however, and was hitting .198 as recently as May 10.

The shortstop has been playing better, though, and he had three hits with two RBIs in Chicago's 11-2 victory over Kansas City on Friday.

Ramirez is hitting .359 (14 for 39) with nine RBIs and three steals since May 19. The White Sox (22-25) are 7-3 during that stretch after losing seven of eight.

Chicago is hitting .286 over the last 10 contests and averaging 5.6 runs. On Friday, every starter had at least one hit and all but two drove in a run.

"We did a lot of good things," manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Brian Bannister, who took the loss after giving up seven runs over five innings, said it wasn't as bad a night for the Kansas City pitching staff as it looked.

"I don't believe we pitched that bad, but it was one of the fortunate baseball games for them," he said. "They're a good hitting team, but things really went their way tonight."

The Royals (23-25) dropped to 5-14 since May 8. They've lost seven of nine and have given up 33 runs in the last four games. Billy Butler hit a two-run homer in the sixth Friday to break up Clayton Richard's shutout bid.

Kansas City is averaging 2.6 runs and hitting .215 over its last nine games. Mike Jacobs, who has driven in a team-high 25 runs, is 4 for 26 (.154) with two RBIs during that stretch.

Breaking out of their slump won't be easy Saturday as the Royals have to face Mark Buehrle (6-1, 2.59 ERA), who is going for his 20th career victory against them.

Buehrle has given up more than three runs only once in nine starts this year, pitching at least seven innings in the last four. That's how long he lasted Sunday, though he did not get a decision as he allowed one run and a season-high 12 hits in a 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh.

The White Sox are 27-12 when Buehrle takes the mound against the Royals, winning his last three starts against them as he's posted a 2.50 ERA. The left-hander held Kansas City to two runs and six hits over five innings April 11 before the White Sox rallied for a 4-2 victory.

Gil Meche (2-5, 4.55) also started that game and did not receive a decision, allowing one run and seven hits over seven innings. The right-hander is 7-3 with a 3.93 ERA in 15 starts against the White Sox.

The Royals have lost Meche's last four starts and he's been charged with losses in three of those games, including Monday against Detroit when he allowed four runs - two earned - and six hits over a season-low 2 1-3 innings of a 13-1 loss.

Meche is winless in five home starts this season and has failed to last past the fifth inning in three of them.