• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

White Sox-Indians Preview

Jul 1, 2009 - 6:36 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (39-38) at Cleveland (31-48), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Enjoying their most productive offensive stretch of the season, the Chicago White Sox are finally back above the .500 mark.

The surging White Sox look for a season high fifth straight victory while trying to complete a three-game road sweep of the lowly Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night.

Paul Konerko and rookie Gordon Beckham each homered and drove in two runs in Chicago's 11-4, rain-shortened, seven-inning victory on Tuesday. The White Sox (39-38) have won 11 of their last 15 and are above .500 for the first time since they were 12-11 on May 2.

Chicago is averaging 4.4 runs per game this season, but 6.0 in its last 15 contests. The White Sox are batting .370 while scoring 31 runs during their current four-game winning streak. They are also hitting .284 on the road, where they've won 12 of the last 16 to improve to 19-18.

On Tuesday, Chicago reached reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee for 11 hits in three innings and finished with 17, including three homers.

"We didn't wait around," Konerko told the team's official Web site. "Guys were (hitting) early. That's something we haven't done all year is get on the board early. It loosened everyone up."

Konerko has five homers with seven RBIs in his last 11 games, while Beckham is 10 for 17 (.588) with five RBIs in his last five contests.

Jermaine Dye, meanwhile, had three hits for the White Sox and is 16 for 31 (.516) with nine RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak.

After looking dominant in winning his first two starts since being recalled from the minors in early June, Jose Contreras (2-7, 5.19 ERA) hopes to avoid a third straight loss.

The 37-year-old Contreras gave up five runs - four earned - and seven hits while striking out eight in 7 1-3 innings of a 5-4 loss to the Cubs on Friday. He's allowed seven earned runs in his last two starts after giving up just three hits in 16 scoreless innings over his previous two outings since returning to the majors.

The right-hander is 4-2 with a 3.34 ERA in 12 starts versus the Indians, who counter with Jeremy Sowers (2-5, 5.44) as he's coming off his first win in a month.

The left-hander allowed two runs and six hits while striking out a season-high six in seven innings of a 9-2 win over Cincinnati on Friday.

"It's definitely a step in the right direction," said Sowers, whose previous victory came against Tampa Bay on May 25.

Sowers is 0-2 against the White Sox this season and 0-4 with a 5.92 ERA in five career starts against them.

Asdrubal Cabrera had three RBIs and Travis Hafner hit his eighth homer Tuesday for Cleveland (31-48), which has lost four in a row and 12 of 14.

Batting .313, Cabrera has been one of the few bright spots for the Indians, who have the AL's worst record and continue to play amid speculation that Eric Wedge's days as manager could be numbered.