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White Sox-Indians Preview

Jun 30, 2009 - 5:40 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Chicago (37-38) at Cleveland (31-46), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Cleveland Indians are desperate for wins, and with Cliff Lee scheduled to pitch against the Chicago White Sox, they have to like their chances for a victory.

Lee will try to produce another stellar outing versus the White Sox and end his team's three-game slide in the second of a three-game home set on Tuesday night.

After winning series over Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis earlier this month, the Indians dropped 10 of their final 12 interleague games and fell 6-3 in Monday night's series opener.

Cleveland (31-47) was limited to five singles by Gavin Floyd through 7 2-3 innings before scoring three in the ninth on homers by Shin-Soo Choo and Ryan Garko. The Indians, though, also had a reversed call go against them, turning a foul ball by Ryan Garko into an inning-ending groundout in the seventh with the bases loaded while trailing 2-0.

"They're supposed to huddle if they've got a question about it," said Indians manager Eric Wedge, who was ejected by crew chief Tom Hallion for arguing after the initial ruling was overturned. "I thought the home plate umpire did his job. He had a good view of it, made the call and they reversed it. They shouldn't have reversed it. Bases loaded, 2-0 game, seventh inning ... ridiculous."

The Indians have been outscored 21-7 since trading Mark DeRosa to St. Louis on Saturday for reliever Chris Perez.

They now turn to Lee (4-6, 2.92 ERA), who has a 22-inning scoreless streak against the White Sox and scattered six hits and one walk in seven innings of a 4-0 victory May 13. Over the last two seasons against Chicago, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner is 2-0 with an 0.38 ERA in three starts.

Despite quality starts in his last three outings, Lee has one victory in that span - his June 14 shutout against St. Louis. He allowed two runs over seven innings Thursday night in Pittsburgh, but he left without a decision in Cleveland's 3-2 loss.

Lee, who has allowed 10 runs in 37 innings this month, will also face a White Sox team that's won 10 of its last 14. Chicago (38-38) is trying to move above .500 for the first time since May 2 and match a season high with its fourth straight win.

The White Sox's biggest improvement has been hitting with runners in scoring position. Through the first 50 games, they batted .242 in those situations, but have since hit .311, including Monday's 4-for-9 performance.

Rookie infielder Gordon Beckham had a season-high three hits and drove in two runs. Beckham, the eighth overall pick in last year's draft, is 7 for 13 (.538) in the past four games after hitting .172 in his first 18.

The White Sox starters have also posted a 2.73 ERA their last 14 games, and they look to left-hander Clayton Richard (2-1, 4.33) to continue that trend.

Richard, however, has not made it through six innings since earning a win May 29 in Kansas City, and is 0-1 with a 6.04 ERA in his last five starts. He lasted 4 1-3 innings Thursday against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers and was pulled after allowing four runs and hitting three batters.

Richard made it only 3 1-3 innings May 12 in Cleveland and is 0-1 with a 8.59 ERA in two starts against Cleveland - both at Progressive Field.