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Orioles-White Sox Preview

Aug 23, 2009 - 4:13 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Baltimore (50-72) at Chicago (62-60), 2:05 p.m. EDT

The Chicago White Sox haven't done a good job at building momentum during their homestand, but they still have a chance to finish it with a winning record.

Chicago closes a six-game stretch at U.S. Cellular Field on Sunday, trying to win two of three against the Baltimore Orioles

The White Sox (63-60) are looking to improve to 9-1 in their last 10 home series. After taking two of three against Kansas City, they evened this set against Baltimore (50-73) with a 4-1 victory Saturday. John Danks overcame control issues to pitch seven innings while Carlos Quentin, who did not play Friday, homered for a third straight game.

Quentin still is hitting only .185 in his last seven games - one of several White Sox sluggers to struggle lately.

Jermaine Dye went 0 for 3 Saturday to drop to .196 in his last 13 games. The right fielder hasn't homered during that stretch and has failed to drive in a run in the last six contests. Paul Konerko, meanwhile, had Saturday off after going 0 for 4 Friday. He's batting .114 with two RBIs in his last 10 games.

The White Sox will need them to snap out of their slump as they prepare for a tough road trip. After Sunday, Chicago plays four at Boston, then three at New York and Minnesota before a makeup game at Wrigley Field against the Cubs. The White Sox are trying to catch the division-leading Tigers, who have a 2 1/2 game lead in the AL Central.

Getting Mark Buehrle (11-6, 3.78 ERA) his first win since his perfect game would be a good way to end the homestand. The left-hander is winless in five starts with a 5.85 ERA since his July 23 outing against Tampa Bay.

Buehrle was in line for the victory against Kansas City on Monday despite giving up four runs and nine hits in six innings. Reliever Scott Linebrink gave up a game-tying, three-run homer in the eighth of the eventual 8-7 Chicago victory.

Buehrle allowed one run in 7 1-3 innings of a 4-3 win over the Orioles on July 18. He is 4-1 with a 2.34 ERA in seven starts against them at home.

He'll be opposed by struggling rookie Jason Berken (2-11, 6.72), who lost to the White Sox on July 17 after allowing six runs and issuing homers to Konerko and Jim Thome.

The Orioles are 3-13 in games started by the right-hander. He gave up five runs and a season-high 11 hits over 5 2-3 innings of a 5-4 loss to the Rays on Tuesday.

Baltimore walked eight times in Saturday's loss - drawing six against Danks - but scored its only run on a wild pitch in the seventh. Brian Roberts, who had eight doubles and five home runs during an 11-game hitting streak, went 0 for 3 with two walks.

"Certainly we, I guess we put ourselves in a few opportunities and we couldn't get them to break, but that's a credit to him," Roberts said.

Nick Markakis, who is hitting .396 in his last 11 games, will try to bounce back after striking out three times Saturday. He is 6 for 13 with a home run against Buehrle.