• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Athletics-White Sox Preview

Jun 1, 2009 - 2:00 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Oakland (18-29) at Chicago (23-25), 8:11 p.m. EDT

After a strong finish on their road trip to close out May, the Chicago White Sox are looking forward to returning home - especially given the way they hit at U.S. Cellular Field last June.

The White Sox begin a season-high 12-game homestand Monday when they take on the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a four-game series.

Chicago (24-25) is trying to win its season-high fourth straight Monday after sweeping a weekend set at Kansas City. The White Sox went 5-1 on their road trip and won for the ninth time in 12 games overall with a 7-4 victory Sunday.

Chicago scored four runs off Zack Greinke, who came in with an ERA of 0.84 over 10 starts, erasing a 4-1 deficit. Chris Getz snapped a 4-all tie with a two-run single in the ninth.

"When you're down 3-1 with Greinke pitching, most teams would say 'We've already won the series, let's pack it up and go to Chicago," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "But we didn't. We battled. That's what we've been doing lately."

The White Sox (24-25) averaged 5.7 runs and hit .290 over their final 12 games in May after having scored 2.9 runs per game while hitting .225 during a 4-12 stretch to begin the month.

After completing its road trip, Chicago is now home until June 11. The White Sox were 15-2 last June at U.S. Cellular Field, outscoring opponents by an average of 4.0 runs.

"When the White Sox play in the middle of the summer at home, it should be a good time," hitting coach Greg Walker told the White Sox's official Web site. "We should play well. But you've got to do it. Saying it and making it happen are two different things."

White Sox right fielder Jermaine Dye hit .385 with six homers in 17 home games last June.

Oakland, meanwhile, closed out May by snapping a four-game losing streak with a 5-4 win Sunday over the Rangers. Adam Kennedy homered in the first and then broke a ninth-inning tie with another solo shot.

Kennedy is hitting .390 with 15 RBIs in 21 games since he was called up from Triple-A Sacramento after being acquired from Tampa Bay in early May. Despite his numbers, the A's are last in the AL in batting average (.241) and second-to-last in runs scored (205).

"You've got to give a lot of credit to Adam Kennedy," manager Bob Geren said. "He's been phenomenal for us. We haven't had a great start to our season, and what little success we've had, he's always been right in the middle of it."

Looking to take advantage of Oakland's hitting struggles, Bartolo Colon (3-4, 3.80 ERA) will try to win his second straight start. The burly right-hander pitched 6 2-3 innings against the Angels on Tuesday, allowing one run and four hits in a 4-2 victory for his first win since April 28.

Colon is 6-4 with a 3.70 ERA against Oakland but hasn't faced them since 2007.

Trevor Cahill (2-5, 4.45) looks to snap a personal three-game losing streak as he takes the mound for the A's. Cahill pitched six innings against Seattle on Wednesday, allowing three runs and six hits in a 6-1 loss.

The 21-year-old rookie right-hander has never faced the White Sox.

Chicago and Oakland split six games at U.S. Cellular Field last season.