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White Sox-Royals Preview

Jul 4, 2009 - 10:27 PM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (42-38) at Kansas City (33-46), 2:10 p.m. EDT

Jose Contreras has made the most of his second chance with the Chicago White Sox this season.

The White Sox hope the veteran right-hander can help them bounce back from their first loss in a week when they conclude a four-game road series with the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

It's been almost a month since the 37-year-old Contreras (3-7, 4.84 ERA) was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte after going 0-5 with an 8.19 ERA in his first six starts. Since returning June 8, Contreras is 3-2 with a 2.17 ERA, and he allowed two runs and five hits while striking out eight in eight innings of a 6-2 victory at Cleveland on Wednesday.

"We've seen it before," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said of Contreras, who went 41-25 from 2004-06. "That time in the minor leagues was great. He's in a groove right now."

Contreras looks to continue his resurgence as he faces Kansas City (34-46), which snapped Chicago's season-high seven-game winning streak with a 6-4 comeback victory Saturday. He's 9-4 with a 3.51 ERA in 17 starts versus the Royals.

The starting pitchers of the White Sox (42-39) allowed 10 earned runs during the previous seven games before Gavin Floyd gave up five in 5 1-3 innings Saturday, when the Royals doubled their run total from their previous four contests.

Alberto Callaspo had two hits with three RBIs as Kansas City erased a 3-0 deficit to snap a four-game losing streak overall, and five-game skid against Chicago.

"Two really big hits," Royals manager Trey Hillman said of the versatile Callaspo, who committed a costly error in Friday's 5-0 loss to the White Sox. "We finally got some key hits and bunched some key at-bats together."

Seeing the first extensive playing time of his four-year career, Callaspo is batting .301 on the season and is 9 for 25 (.360) with four RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak. He's hit .423 (11 for 26) with five RBIs in eight games versus the White Sox in 2009.

Brian Bannister (5-6, 3.93) looks to avoid a third straight loss though he pitched well Tuesday, giving up one earned run and six hits while striking out six in seven innings of a 2-1 loss to Minnesota.

"Bannister was great," Hillman said of the right-hander, who's 1-3 with a 2.38 ERA in his last five starts. "Very efficient, for the most part."

Chicago, however, roughed up Bannister for seven runs in five innings of an 11-2 victory over the Royals on May 29. Bannister has lost his last three outings versus the White Sox and is 2-4 with an 8.15 ERA in 10 starts against them.

Alexei Ramirez is 5 for 11 (.455) against Bannister, and had two hits Saturday after missing two straight games with a finger injury. The second-year shortstop is batting .478 (11 for 23) with a homer and four RBIs in his last six contests.

Jermaine Dye hit his team-leading 19th homer and rookie Gordon Beckham added his third for the White Sox, who are 5-1 on a seven-game road trip.

Prior to Saturday, Chicago had won 11 of 13 games overall and a season-high seven straight on the road.