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Royals-White Sox Preview

Aug 18, 2009 - 5:28 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Kansas City (46-71) at Chicago (60-58), 8:11 p.m. EDT

It'll be a few more weeks before Jake Peavy will be ready to take the mound for Chicago. Until then, the White Sox are hoping Freddy Garcia has enough left in him to help them in the AL Central race.

Garcia returns to the mound for Chicago on Tuesday when the club hosts the Kansas City Royals.

While the White Sox (61-58) wait for Peavy, who is expected to make his second rehab start Tuesday, to join the rotation, they've called up Garcia from the minors to make his 2009 debut.

Garcia spent two-plus seasons with Chicago from 2003-2006, pitching and winning the World Series clincher in 2005. However, he has made only 14 starts since as he struggled with shoulder problems.

After being traded to Philadelphia after the 2006 season, Garcia went 1-5 then was unable to stay healthy with Detroit in 2008. The right-hander signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets in the offseason but was released after two bad starts for Triple-A Buffalo in April. Chicago signed him to a minor league deal in June.

"Really glad to be back. It took me a long time to come back, but I'm glad to be here. Hopefully try to help the team win the race. Hopefully everything goes well for the team," Garcia said.

He takes the mound for a White Sox team that is trying to catch Detroit in the division. Chicago moved within two games of the Tigers after an 8-7 win over the Royals (46-72) on Monday.

Scott Podsednik hit an RBI single in the eighth after the Royals tied the game on Mike Jacobs' three-run homer off Scott Linebrink in the top of the inning.

"Only one guy, Linebrink was disappointed about the inning," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "As soon as we got to the dugout everyone was cheering that was a good sign about the ballclub."

Podsednik, who was in the lineup as the designated hitter for the third time this season, went 2 for 5 for his third multihit game in four contests.

The White Sox, who have won nine of 13 at home, hope Garcia's struggles against the Royals don't continue. He is 8-11 with a 6.12 ERA versus Kansas City, losing five straight decisions.

Gil Meche (5-9, 4.62) will take the mound for the Royals, who have lost three of four and are in last place in the Central.

Meche is coming off his first win in six starts after beating Minnesota 5-4 on Thursday. The right-hander, who was making his first appearance after being placed on the disabled list July 18 with a strained lower back, gave up four runs and seven hits over five innings.

Meche is 7-3 with a 3.83 ERA against the White Sox. Kansas City is winless in his two outings against them this season, although Meche didn't receive a decision in either after allowing three runs over 14 innings while striking out 13.

Alex Rios, batting .227 with one RBI in five games since Chicago claimed him off waivers from Toronto on Aug. 10, is 11 for 18 (.611) with two doubles and two triples against Meche.