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White Sox-Twins Preview

Jul 29, 2009 - 5:42 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Chicago (51-49) at Minnesota (50-50), 8:10 p.m. EDT

The Minnesota Twins continue to find ways to frustrate the Chicago White Sox late in games at the Metrodome.

The Twins look to win their fourth straight overall and 17th in 21 games at home against the White Sox when the two close a three-game series Wednesday.

Minnesota has pulled into a tie with Chicago for second place in the AL Central at 51-50 - two games behind the division-leading Detroit Tigers - after clinching its fifth straight home series win over the White Sox with a 5-3 victory Tuesday.

Mark Buehrle, coming off a perfect game, appeared to have Chicago poised for a rare win in Minneapolis, retiring the first 17 Twins batters he faced to set a major league record with 45 consecutive outs. He gave up a run in the sixth inning, however, and was responsible for four in the seventh.

The victory was the 16th in 20 games at the Metrodome for the Twins against the White Sox. Chicago has given up 35 runs on the road to Minnesota this season, 18 in the sixth inning or later. The Twins scored twice in the sixth in Monday's 4-3 victory.

"I'm not a big fan of broken-bat, bloop singles," Buehrle said. "It just seems like any time at this place you just know it's going to happen. You could be up 10-0 in the ninth inning and something's going to happen in that inning."

The White Sox have lost five of six after entering last weekend tied for first place with Detroit. Jermaine Dye hit a solo home run in the sixth Tuesday and Gordan Beckham hit a two-run, two-out single in the ninth, but Joe Nathan got the final out for his 28th save.

Chicago will try to avoid the sweep as it faces Francisco Liriano (4-10, 5.56 ERA), who is looking for his first win in five starts.

Liriano struggled against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, allowing six runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-3 loss. He gave up three home runs for the second time in his career.

"I think I am making too many mistakes every game," Liriano said. "I am trying the best I can, I am just not pitching well enough and have to try harder."

The left-hander has made two forgettable starts against the White Sox this season, going 0-2 with a 12.46 ERA over a combined 8 2-3 innings. He's walked seven, given up two home runs and hit a batter.

Paul Konerko is 2 for 8 against Liriano, but both hits are home runs.

Jose Contreras (4-9, 4.80) will start for the White Sox, who scratched Bartolo Colon because of elbow soreness.

Contreras is looking to avoid a third straight loss. He gave up four runs and nine hits while striking out eight over 6 2-3 innings of a 5-1 loss to Detroit on Friday.

The right-hander gave up four runs and seven hits over five innings of a 12-5 loss to the Twins on April 10.

Nick Punto, who hit a two-run single Tuesday, is 11 for 31 (.355) against Contreras, while Jason Kubel is 6 for 14 (.429) with three doubles and a home run.