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Indians-White Sox Preview

Jul 9, 2009 - 4:36 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Cleveland (33-51) at Chicago (43-40), 2:05 p.m. EDT

A big reason for the Chicago White Sox's recent success has been their play against the lowly Cleveland Indians.

The surging White Sox look to sweep the visiting Indians for the second time in just over a week when they conclude a three-game series Thursday.

Jermaine Dye had three hits and three RBIs as Chicago (44-40) beat Cleveland for a fifth straight time, 5-1 on Wednesday.

The White Sox, two games behind AL Central-leading Detroit, have won nine of their last 11. That included a three-game sweep of the last-place Indians (33-52) in Cleveland from June 29-July 1.

After losing four of its first six in 2009 against the Indians, Chicago is batting .337 while outscoring them 38-16 over the last five games between the division rivals.

The White Sox are hitting .290 and have a 3.17 ERA while winning 16 of their last 22.

"The way we are playing now, this is how we expected to play out of spring training," White Sox All-Star pitcher Mark Buehrle told the team's official Web site. "(We're) fortunate our division is not the best and one team is not running away with it."

One night after hitting three homers and driving in seven runs, Paul Konerko added two hits and an RBI for the White Sox. He's hitting .481 (13 for 27) with 12 RBIs during his last seven games, and 8 for 15 (.533) with 11 RBIs in his last four against the Indians.

Dye, meanwhile, has driven in six runs in his last four contests, and is 9 for 19 (.474) in his last five versus Cleveland.

Konerko and Dye went a combined 1 for 5 against Cleveland's scheduled starter David Huff (4-3, 6.06 ERA) in Chicago's 8-4 loss June 7 at U.S. Cellular Field.

The left-hander, who allowed three runs in five innings versus the White Sox to earn his first career victory last month, gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings of a 15-3 win over Oakland on Friday.

"I thought a great indicator for Huff was the (fifth) inning where we made a couple errors. He didn't give in, and that's a great sign for a young pitcher," manager Eric Wedge told the Indians' official Web site.

After reworking their rotation so Buehrle could get two starts this week, the White Sox ask Clayton Richard (3-2, 4.75) to pitch on three days' rest after giving up four runs and eight hits in 3 2-3 innings of a 6-3 loss at Kansas City on Sunday.

"I want to get out there and put our team in the best position to win," Richard said. "When that doesn't happen, I feel bad and I feel bad for our team not giving them that chance."

The left-hander is 1-1 with a 7.43 ERA in three career starts versus the Indians, with the victory coming at Cleveland on June 30.

Jhonny Peralta homered and Victor Martinez snapped an 0-for-15 skid with a single Wednesday for the Indians, who've lost 17 of their last 22 games.

Martinez, the team's lone All-Star, is 2 for 34 (.059) over his last 10 games, but 2 for 6 with a walk against Richard.