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Athletics-White Sox Preview

Sep 8, 2009 - 1:23 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Oakland (61-76) at Chicago (68-70), 8:11 p.m. EDT

The Chicago White Sox know their chances of returning to the postseason are slim, but they don't want to give up yet.

They'll begin a two-game set against the last-place Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night before heading out on another difficult road trip.

Chicago (69-70) is in third place in the AL Central, trailing division leader Detroit by 7 1/2 games. Because the White Sox have six of their final nine against the Tigers, there is still a glimmer of hope.

They are feeling better about themselves after winning for the fifth time in six games Monday with a 5-1 victory over Boston. Mark Buehrle won for the first time since his perfect game against Tampa Bay on July 23 with seven sharp innings and Carlos Quentin hit a two-run homer.

"It gives you more hope," manager Ozzie Guillen told Chicago's official Web site. "Every time you win a game, you hope a little bit better. You hope a little bit more. In your mind, you're still competing. Like I say, you never know what's going to happen in the game."

Chicago won three of four from Boston as Mark Kotsay had a huge series, going 6 for 11 with two homers and six RBIs. Kotsay, acquired from the Red Sox on July 28 for Brian Anderson, entered the series with one homer and eight RBIs in 46 games.

White Sox rookie third baseman Gordon Beckham missed his second straight game with a sore side. He could return in this series.

The White Sox will start Carlos Torres (1-0, 3.86 ERA), who earned his first major league win in his third career start Thursday in a 5-0 victory over the Cubs. Torres allowed five hits, walked none and struck out six in seven innings.

It is unclear how the White Sox will use the rookie down the stretch. He posted a 6.75 ERA and did not receive decisions in his first two home starts against Tampa Bay and Cleveland.

"I just take it start by start, pitch by pitch, and see what happens after that," Torres said. "You never know what's going to happen. It's all out of your control."

Oakland (61-76) is starting an eight-game road trip. The Athletics are 4-3 against the White Sox this year, winning three of four on the road June 1-4.

Scott Hairston's grand slam helped Oakland win 5-2 over Seattle on Sunday. Hairston had eight hits in his previous 58 at-bats (.138).

"He's been struggling lately but the ball jumps off his bat," A's manager Bob Geren said. "He's getting a chance to play every day and he'll only keep getting better."

Brett Tomko (3-3, 4.40) will make his fifth start for Oakland after going 2-1 with a 3.63 ERA in the first four. He allowed six runs over 5 2-3 innings Thursday in a 7-4 loss to the Mariners.

The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA against Chicago in four career appearances - one start. The start came June 25, 1998 with Cincinnati.