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Tigers-White Sox Preview

Jun 9, 2010 - 5:59 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Detroit (30-27) at Chicago (24-33), 8:10 p.m. EDT

The Chicago White Sox haven't gotten much out of their pitching staff this season, but Freddy Garcia has provided mostly solid performances over the past month.

He's had plenty of them against the Detroit Tigers in recent years.

While attempting to earn his sixth victory in seven starts, the right-hander also tries to improve to 9-1 in his last 11 outings against the Tigers on Wednesday night.

One of the main reasons for Chicago's struggles this season is a 4.85 ERA that's next-to-last in the AL, and the White Sox gave up six runs in the seventh inning Tuesday in a series-opening 7-2 loss to Detroit.

Mark Kotsay drove in Chicago's only runs on a fourth-inning homer, and the Tigers (30-27) took the lead for good in the seventh, scoring five of their six runs off Matt Thornton. The veteran reliever entered the game second on the White Sox with a 2.10 ERA.

"Everyone's tried everything," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "Doing everything. Things just aren't working out."

However, they've worked out well lately when Garcia has pitched, with Chicago (24-33) winning five of the six games he's started since the beginning of May.

That includes a 6-2 victory in Detroit on May 18 as he allowed two runs and five hits over six innings. Garcia (5-3, 4.94 ERA) gave up two earned runs for the fifth time in six starts Thursday, going seven innings for the second straight outing in a 4-3 win over Texas.

"That's Freddy," first baseman Paul Konerko said. "He kind of just hangs around and then you look up and he's made a lot of good starts for you. He's got guts, and he just knows how to pitch."

Garcia, trying to win his third start in a row, is 11-2 with a 3.15 ERA over his last 14 outings against Detroit. He's allowed two runs or fewer in eight of those starts.

He is 17-6 with a 3.73 ERA in 27 lifetime matchups - Garcia has more wins versus the Tigers than any opponent - and might not have to face former teammate Magglio Ordonez.

The right fielder, hitting .312 with eight homers and 41 RBIs, was scratched from the lineup Tuesday because of soreness in his left side. Ordonez had perhaps his best game in Rick Porcello's previous start Thursday, finishing a single shy of the cycle and driving in a season-high five runs in a 12-6 win over Cleveland.

Porcello (4-5, 5.25) returns to the mound after missing a chance to earn consecutive wins for the first time this season as he gave up six runs - three earned - over 5 1-3 innings.

The 21-year-old right-hander has alternated wins and losses in his last six decisions. One of those defeats came to Garcia and the White Sox last month, when he allowed four runs and eight hits over seven innings. He's lost his only two starts against Chicago while posting a 6.57 ERA.