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White Sox-Red Sox Preview

Aug 27, 2009 - 3:40 AM By MATT BROWN STATS Editor

Chicago (63-63) at Boston (72-53), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Even with a trip to the Bronx on the horizon, the Chicago White Sox probably can't wait to get out of Boston.

The Red Sox probably wish the White Sox would never leave.

Boston looks to complete a four-game sweep of Chicago and earn its eighth win in 10 games overall when the teams meet Thursday night at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox (73-53) have come from behind to win all three games against the White Sox (63-64) this week, with Wednesday night's finish the most dramatic. David Ortiz curled his second homer of the game around the Pesky Pole in the bottom of the ninth to give Boston a 3-2 victory.

It was the sixth win in the last seven meetings with Chicago for the Red Sox, who have taken 14 of 17 from the White Sox since July 20, 2007, and will get four more chances to extend that dominance when the clubs meet at U.S. Cellular Field over Labor Day weekend.

Having Ortiz on the roster doesn't hurt. He's a .309 hitter against the White Sox with 22 homers in 311 at-bats.

The Red Sox slugger is batting .227 and has slumped through much of the season but appears to be rediscovering his power stroke down the stretch. Ortiz has seven homers in his last 11 games, equaling the total from his previous 40.

"You're getting late into August right now, and it's good to have big hits like that, especially from him," said Boston starter Tim Wakefield, who pitched seven strong innings in his return from the disabled list. "We were able to scrap together enough runs to get a win and hopefully we can carry that momentum into (Thursday) and sweep this series."

While Boston extended its AL wild-card lead to 2 1/2 games over Texas, the White Sox suffered their fourth straight loss and fell below .500 for the first time since June 28. They'll now try to avoid matching their longest losing streak of the season, a five-game skid May 13-18.

Chicago is tied with Minnesota for second in the AL Central, 4 1/2 games behind Detroit.

"The way we're playing, it feels like we're playing 20 games out," said manager Ozzie Guillen, whose club continues its season-high 11-game road trip with three games against the Yankees this weekend. "But I think this ballclub is better than what it shows right now."

Ortiz has one home run in two career at-bats against John Danks (11-8, 3.85 ERA), who will get the ball for Chicago in the series finale.

Like the rest of his club, Danks has struggled against the Red Sox, losing all three times he's started while compiling a 6.06 ERA. He's pitched well lately, going 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA in his last three starts. With a win Thursday, he'll pass Mark Buehrle for sole possession of the staff lead.

The left-hander issued six walks Saturday against Baltimore but allowed one run and three hits over 6 1-3 innings to win 4-1. The Orioles failed to get a hit in five at-bats against him with runners in scoring position.

Danks will be opposed by Red Sox rookie Junichi Tazawa (2-2, 3.57), who has continually wiggled out of jams in his first three major league starts. Opposing hitters are 2 for 22 against the 23-year-old Japanese right-hander with runners in scoring position and batting .436 in all other situations.

Tazawa threw six scoreless innings in Saturday's 14-1 win over New York, giving up eight hits and two walks but holding the Yankees hitless in eight at-bats in RBI situations.