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White Sox-Rangers Preview

Jul 2, 2010 - 6:47 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Chicago (40-37) at Texas (47-31), 8:05 p.m. EDT

It's been nearly a month since the Texas Rangers have had to bounce back from a series loss, but they'll have a good chance to pad their lead in the AL West over the next two weeks.

Owners of the best home record in the AL, the Rangers begin a 10-game homestand Friday night when they open a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox.

Texas (47-31) dropped two of three to the second-place Los Angeles Angels this week, seeing its division lead cut to 3 1/2 games - still the largest in the AL.

The Rangers had four hits in Thursday's 2-1 defeat, going 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position and leaving the bases loaded in the seventh. They averaged 6.8 runs and hit .310 while winning 17 of their previous 20.

"Those guys are like the Yankees out there," Angels starter Jered Weaver said of the Rangers. "They got power up and down their lineup."

The series loss was Texas' first since being swept by Minnesota from May 28-30. After that, the Rangers won two of three against Chicago (40-37) for the start of eight straight series victories.

Josh Hamilton went 0 for 3 and was intentionally walked to end a career-high 23-game hitting streak Thursday. The last time he was held without a hit was an 0-for-4 performance June 3 against the White Sox.

Hamilton and the Rangers will try to hand Freddy Garcia (8-3, 4.66 ERA) his first loss in more than a month as they start a homestand that leads into the All-Star break. Texas is an AL-best 28-12 at home.

The White Sox, however, have won Garcia's last six starts, during which the right-hander has a 3.54 ERA. He gave up two runs in seven innings of a 3-2 win over the Cubs on Saturday, but did not factor in the decision.

"I never thought this guy is going to do what he's doing," manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Garcia gave up three runs in seven innings of a 4-2 win against Texas on June 3 to win his third straight decision against the Rangers. Hamilton is 1 for 7 against Garcia.

Garcia will try to get the White Sox back on track after they lost for the third time in four games following an 11-game winning streak. They fell 7-6 to the Royals on Wednesday.

Chicago is 2-4 against the Rangers this season, losing two of three in Arlington from April 27-29.

"The series this weekend is big for us now, falling (two) games out of first place," Jake Peavy, who suffered Wednesday's loss, told the White Sox's official website. "(We're) going in playing a red-hot, first-place team that can really swing the bat. We're going to have to swing the bat with them."

Texas right-hander Colby Lewis (7-5, 3.28) will take the mound Friday after having his three-start winning streak snapped. He gave up five runs and a season-high nine hits in five innings of a 7-4 loss to Houston last Friday.

Lewis is 1-3 with an 8.31 ERA in four starts and two relief appearances against the White Sox. He gave up four runs in 6 1-3 innings in the loss opposite Garcia last month.

Bengie Molina is expected to be in the lineup Friday after the Rangers acquired him Thursday from San Francisco for reliever Chris Ray and a minor league pitcher. Molina is hitting .257 with three homers and 17 RBIs.

"Bengie brings an experience level that we were looking for," general manager Jon Daniels said. "A strong defensive catcher, experience in the postseason and in the pennant race, and handling very good pitchers."