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Cubs-White Sox Preview

Jun 26, 2010 - 12:53 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Chicago (32-40) at Chicago (37-34), 7:10 p.m. EDT

With their first double-digit winning streak in 34 years in tow, the next task for the Chicago White Sox is going for their first 11-game streak in nearly a half-century.

They have a favorable set of circumstances to do it.

Freddy Garcia has won five straight starts and is 4-0 in his career against the Chicago Cubs, who have a worn-out bullpen and a clubhouse controversy to worry about as they try to cool off the White Sox on the South Side on Saturday night.

The White Sox (38-34) haven't lost since June 13 against the Cubs (32-41) at Wrigley Field, and that 1-0 defeat seemed like a distant memory in Friday afternoon's series opener. Ozzie Guillen's club jumped on Carlos Zambrano in the first inning, with Carlos Quentin's three-run homer highlighting a four-run inning and providing all the offense the White Sox would need in a 6-0 win.

"This is the way we thought we would play at the beginning of the year," catcher A.J. Pierzynski told the White Sox's official website. "Obviously not this well, but it's great. We all want to come to the park."

The South Siders have won 10 in a row for the first time since May 18-26, 1976, and Saturday they'll go for their first 11-game streak since a 12-game run June 17-27, 1961.

They'll have a few factors working in their favor, perhaps none more significant than the recent success of Garcia (8-3, 4.85 ERA). The right-hander has an unimpressive 4.42 ERA since May 5, but he's 8-1 in that stretch behind an average of 7.07 runs of support.

Garcia delivered his fourth quality start during his five-game winning streak Sunday at Washington, allowing three runs over seven innings in a 6-3 win at Washington.

The two-time All-Star hasn't faced the Cubs since 2007, but he's 4-0 with a 1.25 ERA in five career starts versus the North Siders - including 3-0 with a 0.41 ERA while wearing a White Sox uniform.

The Cubs turn to their most effective starter in an effort to avoid a seventh loss in eight games to their crosstown rivals, and they'll desperately need Carlos Silva (8-2, 3.01) to take them deep in the game.

That's because Zambrano only made it through one inning Friday, one day after the bullpen pitched seven innings in a 13-inning win at Seattle. Zambrano was seen screaming as he walked down the dugout steps past Lee after the rocky first inning, and the two were separated by manager Lou Piniella, pitching coach Larry Rothschild and bench coach Alan Trammell

The Cubs suspended their hot-tempered former ace indefinitely after the loss.

"His conduct wasn't acceptable," general manager Jim Hendry told the team's official website. "His actions toward his teammates and staff were not acceptable.

"He will not be at the ballpark (Saturday). We'll play with 24. We'll play with 24 before we tolerate that kind of behavior."

The Cubs were 10-1 in Silva's first 11 starts, but they've dropped his past two even though he's been solid. Silva gave up three runs over six innings in a 7-6 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on June 18, and was given a few extra days to rest his sore right hamstring.

Silva allowed two runs over seven innings June 12 against the Cubs at Wrigley, but he's 0-5 with a 4.50 ERA in six starts against the South Siders since 2007.

He's 2-5 with a 6.57 ERA in nine starts at U.S. Cellular Field.