• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Marlins-White Sox Preview

May 22, 2010 - 10:54 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Florida (22-21) at Chicago (17-24), 2:05 p.m. EDT

Maybe all the Chicago White Sox needed to break out of their month-long slump was an interleague series.

The White Sox look to continue their dominance over the NL and sweep a three-game series from the suddenly scuffling Florida Marlins on Sunday.

Chicago (18-24) entered this set having lost five of seven and just a half-game ahead of last-place Cleveland in the AL Central. After defeating the Marlins 8-0 in Friday's opener, the White Sox won 4-1 on Saturday to post back-to-back victories for the first time since a three-game sweep of Seattle from April 23-25.

Alex Rios hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs Saturday, while Carlos Quentin recorded his third straight multihit game and knocked in his 24th run.

This sudden turnaround shouldn't come as a surprise for Chicago.

Since 2008, the White Sox have the majors' second-best interleague record at 26-12. They've also won 14 of 17 against the NL at U.S. Cellular Field.

Strong pitching has been the key in this series, and Freddy Garcia (3-2, 4.50 ERA), who also has enjoyed plenty of success in interleague games, looks to keep it rolling Sunday. Chicago has held Florida to 10 hits in the series.

Garcia, sidelined with arm injuries most of the past three seasons, has been a pleasant surprise as Chicago's No. 5 starter. He has allowed two runs in five of seven outings, including each of his last three. In Tuesday's 6-2 win over Detroit, the right-hander gave up five hits in six innings to record three straight victories for the first time since winning four in a row from Sept. 13-29, 2006.

"If my shoulder is OK, and it has been all season, I can still pitch," said Garcia, who has a 5.91 ERA without a decision in two career starts against Florida. "When I'm healthy, I can still put the ball wherever I want it."

Garcia hasn't made a start against an NL team since 2007, but he's 19-7 in 32 interleague games with a 2.57 ERA - best among active pitchers.

Garcia looks to continue his success against the NL when he faces a Marlins team that has lost three straight after winning six of seven.

Florida's offense has been virtually nonexistent during this skid, plating three runs with a .172 batting average and three extra-base hits. In the previous six games, the Marlins (22-22) averaged 6.3 runs while batting .309 with 24 extra-base hits.

"We need to make an adjustment and start scoring some runs again," said Dan Uggla, hitless in eight at-bats in the last three games.

Scheduled starter Josh Johnson (4-1, 2.68) has been overpowering on the mound, but he'll need some offensive support for the Marlins to avoid their first four-game skid of the season.

Johnson, 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA in his last seven starts, pitched two-hit ball while striking out nine over seven innings in Tuesday's 8-0 win over Arizona.

"He's probably the best unheralded pitcher in our league," Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said.

Johnson was 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA in four interleague starts last year, but he didn't perform well in his only career start against the White Sox. The right-hander yielded eight runs - four earned - and nine hits in 3 2-3 innings of a 10-6 loss June 18, 2007.