• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Cubs-White Sox Preview

Jun 26, 2009 - 1:43 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Chicago (34-34) at Chicago (34-37), 4:05 p.m. EDT

After winning their first home series in a month against the team with the best record in baseball, the Chicago White Sox continue a busy homestand against their crosstown rival this weekend.

The White Sox look to win a season-high three straight at home Friday when they open a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.

The White Sox (35-37) won for the fourth time in five games, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 in 13 innings Thursday. Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski each homered while Scott Podsednik drove in the game-winning run with two outs.

Podsednik is hitting .305 in 48 games with Chicago since being signed to a minor league contract in April after Colorado cut him. He was 0 for 15 before hitting a single in the 12th.

"Most importantly, we won a series against a club like the Dodgers, who came into town with the best record," Podsednik said. "Maybe that will give us some momentum at home. We haven't been playing that great here."

The White Sox took two of three from the Dodgers for their first series victory at home since winning two of three against Pittsburgh from May 22-24. The White Sox, though, went 4-8 on their next homestand.

The crosstown rivals split a rain-shortened series at Wrigley Field earlier this month. The White Sox swept the Cubs (34-35) at U.S. Cellular Field last season, outscoring them 21-9.

The White Sox will face Randy Wells (1-3, 2.57 ERA), who is coming off his first major league victory after finally getting some run support. He has allowed two or fewer runs in six of his eight starts, and on Sunday, the Cubs provided six runs as Wells limited the Indians to two runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-2 victory.

"You dream about winning ballgames in the big leagues," Wells said. "It's been a long time coming."

Chicago has lost four straight since Wells was on the mound, though. The Cubs opened a 10-game road trip with a loss in Atlanta, then were swept in Detroit, capped with a 6-5 defeat Thursday for their sixth straight road loss. Jake Fox had three hits - including his first career home run - but Ted Lilly gave up six runs in six innings.

The Cubs had six extra-base hits but were just 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position and struck out nine times. Still, manager Lou Piniella found an upside.

"We hit the ball a little better, which is good," he told the Cubs' official Web site. "Hopefully it carries over into the weekend against the White Sox."

Derrek Lee went 0 for 4, ending his career-high 21-game hitting streak.

The Cubs will look to continue their success against Jose Contreras (2-6, 5.23), who takes the mound for the White Sox.

After pitching 16 scoreless innings in his return from the minors, Contreras gave up three runs and nine hits over six innings of a 4-3 loss to the Reds last Friday.

Contreras is 2-3 with a 6.08 ERA in six starts against the Cubs. Alfonso Soriano is 5 for 8 with three home runs against him.