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Angels-White Sox Preview

Jul 8, 2010 - 6:58 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Los Angeles (46-41) at Chicago (45-38), 2:05 p.m. EDT

Despite an injury to a key member of their rotation, the Chicago White Sox are still confident they can contend in the AL Central.

A day after learning Jake Peavy will likely miss the rest of the season, the White Sox look to complete a four-game home sweep of the Los Angeles Angels for the first time in 27 years Thursday afternoon.

It will be a short turnaround after Wednesday's game was delayed 2 hours, 20 minutes by rain. The White Sox (45-38) won 5-2, with the victory coming after midnight local time.

Chicago overcame five errors and moved ahead of Minnesota in the AL Central, staying one game behind first-place Detroit. The White Sox have won 21 of 26, during which the starters are 16-5 with a 2.51 ERA.

Freddy Garcia, emerging as the ace of the staff, gave up one unearned run in six innings for his team-high ninth win while Paul Konerko drove in two runs.

"I think the pitching staff overcame those errors. That's how you win games, you don't lay there and worry about errors, they picked each other up. When that happens that shows what kind of ballclub you have right now," manager Ozzie Guillen said

The win came hours after the White Sox learned that Peavy suffered a detached muscle in the back of his right shoulder, an injury that will almost certainly end his season.

"It's tough to see. Unfortunate. You feel for him," said John Danks, who will take the mound for Chicago on Thursday. "We have some guys who can fill the void. We'll be all right I think."

The White Sox, who are looking for their first four-game sweep of the Angels (46-41) at home since 1983, will face Ervin Santana (8-6, 3.95 ERA) on Thursday.

Santana was outstanding May 20 against the White Sox, giving up one unearned run in seven innings of a 6-5 win. He is 4-2 with a 4.30 ERA in his career against them, including 3-1 in Chicago.

The right-hander gave up four runs in 8 1-3 innings of a 4-2 loss to Kansas City on Saturday. He pitched seven scoreless innings before giving up two runs in the eighth and two in the ninth.

Santana will try to help the Angels snap a three-game losing streak, which has dropped them 5 1/2 games behind Texas in the AL West. They've scored two or fewer runs in six of seven games this month and are batting .154 with runners in scoring position in this series.

"We had a little trouble with guys in scoring position," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Some of our guys are squeezing the bat a little hard. The guys are playing hard, we're just not getting that one hit to fall in, especially early in the game."

Los Angeles has had some success against Danks (7-7, 3.58), who suffered his second straight loss Saturday against Texas despite allowing only two runs and four hits in six innings of the 3-1 loss.

The left-hander gave up three runs, three hits and struck out eight in 7 2-3 innings of a 3-2 loss to the Angels on May 19. He is 1-3 with a 3.16 ERA in seven starts against them, including 0-3 with a 4.44 ERA in four starts at home.

Bobby Abreu, who is 0 for 11 with five strikeouts in the series, is 4 for 10 with two home runs against Danks.