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Rangers-White Sox Preview

Jun 2, 2010 - 5:19 AM By JON PALMIERI STATS Editor

Texas (26-24) at Chicago (22-28), 8:10 p.m. EDT

The only consistent thing about the Chicago White Sox this season seems to be their inconsistency.

Hoping their trend of alternating wins and losses continues for one more day, the White Sox face the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night as their three-game series continues.

Since winning two in a row against Florida on May 21-22, the White Sox (22-29) have traded wins and losses in their last nine games. Chicago has won back-to-back games only once since winning a season-high three straight April 23-25.

It appeared the White Sox were on their way putting together consecutive wins with a 4-0 lead in Tuesday night's series opener and Mark Buehrle on the mound. Buehrle, however, fell apart in the sixth inning as Texas scored five runs and went on to a 9-6 victory.

"We score four runs in the beginning of the game, with Buehrle on the mound, you're a little excited about the game," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Then all of a sudden, everything was turned around. We could have scored some more, we left opportunities out there."

Chicago continued to struggle at home, falling to 11-14.

Playing better at U.S. Cellular Field is imperative if the White Sox are to have any chance of closing the gap in the AL Central. Tuesday began a stretch where the Sox play 18 of their next 24 games in Chicago, including a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field from June 11-13.

Texas (27-24) snapped a four-game losing and won for only the second time in eight games. Ian Kinsler had two of his team's 19 hits and drove in three runs for the Rangers, who moved back into first place in the West, one percentage point ahead of Oakland.

"We got together and talked about things we needed to do when we got guys in scoring position, things like that," said Josh Hamilton, who had three hits.

Vladimir Guerrero showed no signs of slowing down in June after a scorching May, going 2 for 4 with a run scored. He is batting .336 (38 for 113) with 10 homers, 31 RBIs and 19 runs in his last 28 games.

Scott Feldman (2-5, 5.84 ERA) will try to help Texas win two straight on the road for the first time in a month. The road, however, has been a big problem lately for the right-hander, who dropped to 0-4 with a 7.71 ERA in his last four starts away from Arlington after allowing four runs and seven hits over 6 1-3 innings Wednesday in a 5-2 loss to Kansas City.

"I'm frustrated," said Feldman, a 17-game winner in 2009. "I've got to get better."

Opponents are hitting .326 off him in his last eight starts overall.

Feldman limited the White Sox to three runs - one earned - and two hits but walked four over six innings in a 7-5 loss April 29, not getting a decision.

Freddy Garcia (4-3, 5.26) looks to build off his most impressive performance of the season. The right-hander rebounded from a dismal outing against Florida by limiting major league-best Tampa Bay to two runs and four hits over seven innings while striking out a season-high seven in a 4-2 victory Friday.

The win was the fourth in five starts for Garcia, who has a 2.77 ERA during that span excluding the loss to the Marlins.

Garcia is 6-5 with a 4.39 ERA in 19 starts against the Rangers, last facing them Sept. 17, 2008, with Detroit.