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White Sox-Royals Preview

May 31, 2009 - 3:31 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Chicago (22-25) at Kansas City (23-25), 2:10 p.m. EDT

The level of dominance Zack Greinke is showing hasn't been seen in the majors in more than four decades. The Chicago White Sox have experienced twice already how tough the Kansas City right-hander is.

Greinke look to become the first nine-game winner in the majors Sunday afternoon as the Royals try to avoid being swept at home by the Chicago White Sox.

Kansas City (23-26) entered this series having lost six of eight, but hoped to continue its success this season against Chicago (23-25) after winning four of the first five meetings. Instead, they'll turn to their ace, hoping he can help salvage a victory in the finale.

Greinke (8-1, 0.84 ERA) is tied with Toronto's Roy Halladay for the major league lead in wins. He leads the majors in ERA and complete games and has yet to give up a home run in 75 innings this season. Greinke pitched his fifth complete game Tuesday against Detroit, allowing one run and six hits while striking out eight in a 6-1 victory.

Greinke is the first pitcher since San Francisco's Juan Marichal in 1966 to have an ERA under 1.00 through his first 10 starts. Marichal was 9-0 with a 0.59 ERA over 92 innings pitched.

The White Sox were unable to figure Greinke out in two previous matchups. He's pitched 15 scoreless innings in two wins against them, allowing nine hits with 17 strikeouts. Greinke tossed a six-hitter in a 3-0 home win over Chicago on May 4.

"Best pitching performance I've seen in a long time by a major league pitcher," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He's got great stuff."

While they've struggled against Greinke, Guillen's team clinched its fourth straight series victory with a 5-3 win over the Royals on Saturday.

Trailing 2-0 early, Scott Podsednik drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth. Jim Thome had two RBIs for Chicago, which had lost seven of eight before its current 8-3 run.

"It was only a matter of time when we turned it around and started playing better," said White Sox starter Mark Buehrle. "Everybody knows we can hit home runs, but we're not going to win every game just hitting home runs. We've got to get on and make things happen, top of the lineup to the bottom of the lineup."

Kansas City, meanwhile, has lost 15 of 20 and is averaging 2.6 runs and batting .218 in the last 10 games.

The Royals may be without catcher John Buck in the finale after he left Saturday's game in the third inning because of back spasms. He was replaced by Miguel Olivo, who homered in the eighth.

Trying for their first three-game sweep at Kansas City since April 2005, the White Sox will hand the ball to John Danks (4-3, 4.59), who looks to win his third straight start after going winless in the previous four.

The left-hander allowed three runs, four hits and walked six over six innings Monday against the Los Angeles Angels, but was backed by plenty of run support in a 17-3 victory. Chicago has scored 23 in Danks' last two starts after scoring two runs in the previous four.

Danks didn't get any support against the Royals on April 9. He pitched six scoreless innings, allowing three hits while striking out five, but did not factor in a 2-1 loss. He is 1-0 with a 2.64 ERA in five career starts against Kansas City.