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Yankees-White Sox Preview

Jul 31, 2009 - 9:25 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

New York (62-40) at Chicago (52-51), 8:11 p.m. EDT

A rare ineffective performance by a late-inning reliever wound up hurting the New York Yankees. A better performance from the bullpen may be necessary with Sergio Mitre set to take his turn in the rotation.

After missing a chance to force extra innings, the Yankees hope Mitre can end his struggles as they continue a four-game series with the Chicago White Sox, who acquired Jake Peavy before the trade deadline, on Friday night.

New York's lead in the AL East dwindled to 2 1/2 games over Boston after losing the opener of this series 3-2 to Chicago (52-51) on Thursday night. The Yankees (62-40) tied the game on Nick Swisher's solo homer in the ninth, but Phil Hughes gave up a game-ending RBI single to DeWayne Wise in the bottom of the inning.

Hughes had not allowed a run in his previous 16 appearances, giving New York an outstanding setup man for Mariano Rivera. The Yankees closer has not surrendered a run in his last 17 appearances.

Rivera and Hughes have combined to pitch 3 2-3 scoreless innings in Mitre's two starts, helping New York win each contest even though its new No. 5 starter hasn't been sharp.

Mitre (1-0, 5.91 ERA) has yielded seven runs in 10 2-3 innings since being called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take over for Chien-Ming Wang, who is out for the season after undergoing right shoulder surgery.

Mitre gave up four runs and nine hits in five innings of New York's 7-5 win over Oakland on Sunday.

The right-hander is 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA in two career starts versus the White Sox.

Chicago added San Diego ace Peavy for four young pitchers Friday. One of them was Clayton Richard, who was scheduled to start this game. D.J. Carrasco (3-1, 3.58) will take the ball in his place for Chicago.

The veteran right-hander will make his first start since September 2005. He has pitched well recently, posting a 1.23 ERA in his last five outings - four of which were scoreless.

Carrasco has not allowed a run in five career appearances - one start - against the Yankees, going 2-0 with nine strikeouts in 10 2-3 innings. He is 5-8 with a 4.81 in 22 career starts.

He'll try to help the White Sox win consecutive games following a 1-6 road trip. Chicago, though, will likely need more production from its lineup.

The White Sox have scored three runs or fewer in seven of their last eight contests. They may have come up short again Thursday if not for a clutch performance from the usually light-hitting Wise, who raised his batting average to .193.

Seven days earlier, Wise made a spectacular catch against the wall to help secure Mark Buehrle's perfect game.

"That's why one of the reasons why we have him there. We think this kid could play the role he's been doing and everything has come out pretty nice for him," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Jim Thome was back in Chicago's lineup after missing three straight games with back tightness. The veteran designated hitter singled off Hughes in the ninth and came out for pinch-runner Scott Podsednik, who scored the winning run.

That was Thome's only hit in four at-bats, however, and he's hitting .071 (1 for 14) in his last four games versus the Yankees.