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White Sox-Royals Preview

Jul 3, 2009 - 4:45 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (40-38) at Kansas City (33-44), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Maybe the only thing that can cool off the Chicago White Sox is facing the Kansas City Royals with Zack Greinke on the mound.

The surging White Sox look to extend their season-high winning streak to seven games Friday night in the continuation of a four-game road set versus Greinke and the Royals.

Backed by a strong outing from Mark Buehrle, Chicago (41-38) delivered more than enough offense in a 4-1 victory over Kansas City on Thursday. The White Sox have won six in a row, 10 of their last 12 overall and 14 of 18 on the road.

The White Sox, who are 2 1/2 games behind AL Central-leading Detroit, have outscored their opponents 41-17 during their current winning streak. Chicago is batting .351 and has a 2.47 ERA during its longest undefeated stretch since winning seven in a row from June 26-July 2, 2008.

"It just seems like everything's working for us," Buehrle said. "When you're playing good, it seems like everything's working for you."

Chicago, though, could be in for a challenge against Greinke, who's 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in three starts against the White Sox this season.

After a bit of a rough stretch, Greinke (10-3, 1.95 ERA) has a chance to become the majors' first 11-game winner with a third consecutive victory. Boston's Tim Wakefield and Minnesota's Kevin Slowey will also be going for their 11th wins Friday.

Greinke, who has the lowest ERA in the majors, allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 3-2 win at Pittsburgh on Sunday.

"He looked great out there, commanding his fastball and getting guys out of balance," left fielder David DeJesus told the Royals' official Web site of Greinke, who's 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in his last two outings after going 0-2 with a 5.19 ERA in his previous four.

Though the right-hander's pitched well against Chicago of late, he's 5-8 with a 4.17 ERA in 17 career starts versus the White Sox.

Scott Podsednik, hitting .481 (13 for 27) against Greinke, drove in a run Thursday as the White Sox beat Kansas City (33-45) for a fourth straight time. He is batting .309 in 54 games since joining the White Sox on May 1, and is 12 for 27 (.444) with six RBIs against the Royals this season.

John Danks (6-6, 4.08) looks for another strong outing after scattering four hits and four walks in seven innings of a 6-0 victory over the Cubs on Sunday.

"I didn't throw as many strikes this time around," Danks told the team's official Web site. "I feel like I was still able to make the big pitch when I had to."

The left-hander, 2-2 with a 1.91 ERA in his last four starts, also held Kansas City scoreless in six innings of a 2-1 loss April 9. Danks has no record and a 3.18 ERA versus the Royals this season, and is 1-0 with a 3.25 ERA in six lifetime starts.

DeJesus drove in the lone run Thursday for the Royals, who've scored three total during a current three-game losing streak. DeJesus is batting a career-low .245, but is 6 for 16 (.375) with five RBIs versus Danks.