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Angels-White Sox Preview

May 19, 2010 - 5:03 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (18-22) at Chicago (15-22), 8:10 p.m. EDT

It's been almost a month since the Chicago White Sox last won back-to-back games.

They'll try to end that drought in the opener of a two-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.

Chicago (16-22) has won eight times in 19 games since posting a three-game home sweep of Seattle from April 23-25. None of those victories, however, have come in consecutive games for a club that continues to look for something positive to help overcome a disappointing start.

"Bottom line, we have to start winning," pitcher Freddy Garcia told the White Sox official website.

The White Sox hope their latest victory will help them continue to do so. Carlos Quentin and Juan Pierre each had two RBIs while Garcia threw six solid innings in Chicago's 6-2 win at Detroit on Tuesday.

"We'll take any win, the way we are playing," manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Nobody has been more representative of Chicago's slow start than Quentin. The former All-Star is batting .200, but is coming off his second three-hit game in his last four.

Quentin is a lifetime .293 hitter with four homers and 12 RBIs in 13 games against the Angels.

John Danks (3-2, 2.25 ERA) looks to follow up Garcia's effort with a strong one of his own as he tries to avoid a third straight loss Wednesday.

The White Sox have totaled two runs while losing Danks' last two starts. He gave up three runs in seven innings of a 3-2 loss at Minnesota on Wednesday.

"I'm going out there trying to give us a chance to win," said the left-hander, who's 1-2 with a 3.34 ERA in six starts against the Angels.

Though the White Sox are 9-10 at home, they've won five of seven over Los Angeles (18-23) at U.S. Cellular Field.

In order to continue that successful stretch, Chicago will likely need to get the best of scheduled starter Joe Saunders (2-5, 4.96).

The left-hander allowed four hits and struck out six to snap a three-game losing streak with his second career shutout in a 4-0 win over Oakland on Friday.

"I don't know who was wearing Joe's uniform earlier in the season," manager Mike Scioscia told the Angels' official website. "That's where he's supposed to be. Hopefully, this is a level he can maintain."

Saunders is 3-2 with a 3.49 ERA in six starts against the White Sox, including 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA in three at U.S. Cellular Field.

The Angels look to bounce back after losing two in a row at Texas. Torii Hunter and Juan Rivera each hit two-run homers in Tuesday's 8-7 loss to the Rangers that dropped Los Angeles to 6-12 on the road.

Hunter, 5 for 14 with two home runs in his last four games, is batting .375 with two homers and six RBIs in his last seven versus Chicago.

However, Los Angeles' designated hitter Hideki Matsui is 10 for 72 with 16 strikeouts over the past 21 games.