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Royals-White Sox Preview

May 5, 2010 - 4:54 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Kansas City (10-16) at Chicago (11-15), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Kansas City has fared well against Chicago at U.S. Cellular Field of late. It's been even better against Freddy Garcia.

The visiting Royals look to continue their success against the veteran right-hander when they try for a series win Wednesday night against the White Sox.

A day after being held to six hits in a 5-1 loss to Chicago, Kansas City (11-16) pounded out 16 in a 7-2 win Tuesday to even the three-game set.

"You're going to have bad at-bats, you just can't take them into your next one," first baseman Billy Butler told the Royals' official website.

Though Tuesday's contest snapped Chicago's four-game home winning streak, the Royals are 6-5 at U.S. Cellular Field since the start of the 2009 season when they won two of the three series played there.

Kansas City has a good chance to take another series from the underachieving White Sox (11-16) with Garcia (0-2, 5.87 ERA) on the mound.

Garcia's rarely seemed to pitch well against the Royals, going 8-13 with a 6.03 ERA in 25 career starts versus Kansas City, including 0-7 with a 7.40 ERA in his last eight.

Garcia allowed four runs in six innings but didn't factor in the decision of a 6-4 loss at New York on Friday.

Mike Aviles, who's 2 for 3 with a homer against Garcia, had three hits including a home run Tuesday for the Royals. David DeJesus, a lifetime .355 hitter against Garcia, had two hits as Kansas City moved within one game of reaching .500 on the road this season.

Former White Sox outfielder Scott Podsednik had two hits Tuesday and is 3 for 9 with two RBIs in the series.

After Luke Hochevar allowed one run and three hits over six innings Tuesday, the Royals hope Brian Bannister (1-1, 3.48) can give them another strong start in this contest.

Bannister gave up one run and two hits in a season-high seven innings, but didn't factor in a 3-2 win at Tampa Bay on Friday. The right-hander is 3-4 with a 7.61 ERA in 12 starts against the White Sox.

Chicago's A.J. Pierzynski, 11 for 26 with two home runs against Bannister, homered Tuesday. Juan Pierre added two hits for the White Sox, who've alternated wins and losses in their last six games.

"It's kind of weird," said manager Ozzie Guillen, who's team is batting .221 while going 7-7 at home this season. "This ballclub plays like a champ one night and 24 hours later we don't know. I'm confused a lot. We haven't been consistent and when you're not consistent a lot of bad things could happen."

Though Pierzynski is batting .210 this season, he's 6 for 16 in his last four games overall and hitting .446 in his last 17 versus the Royals.

Dropped from the leadoff spot last week, Pierre could be back there for the time being after going 3 for 7 with three runs scored from that spot in the series.