• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

White Sox-Mariners Preview

Jul 19, 2010 - 12:57 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (50-40) at Seattle (35-56), 10:10 p.m. EDT

The Chicago White Sox have not dealt with much adversity over the last month. After a rough weekend, however, they will need to show some resiliency.

Mired in their worst losing stretch in three months, the AL Central-leading White Sox look to avoid a fourth straight defeat Monday night against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

Chicago (50-41) is 26-5 since June 9, and had won nine a row before dropping the final three of a four-game series at Minnesota. The White Sox blew a three-run, ninth-inning lead in a 7-6 loss Sunday.

Chicago, which has a 1 1/2-game lead over Minnesota and Detroit, has not lost four straight since April 15-18.

"No matter what happened, you have to go out there and play tomorrow," manager Ozzie Guillen told the White Sox's official website. "Learn from this one and get better. If we're going to sit around here and carry over this game until (Monday), then we don't have the winning attitude."

Facing Seattle (39-56) could help the White Sox get back on track. Though the Mariners snapped a four-game skid with a 2-1, 10-inning victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, they are 3-12 in July and dropped three one-run games at Chicago from April 23-25.

Seattle is batting .220 and averaging 2.8 runs this month.

"Hopefully we can take at least two again and just keep this wheel spinning," said Chicago closer Bobby Jenks, who took the loss Sunday.

Chicago might need struggling second baseman Gordon Beckham to stay hot. Beckham had four hits Sunday and is 12 for 18 with six RBIs in his last five games to raise his average from .208 to .237.

Beckham is 6 for 40 lifetime against the Mariners.

White Sox right fielder Carlos Quentin is 11 for 26 with 15 RBIs in his last eight games, but could be out of the lineup for the series opener after leaving Sunday's game with a bruised hand.

Chicago rookie Daniel Hudson (0-0, 11.25 ERA) makes his second start of the season and first ever against Seattle.

The right-hander hopes to be a permanent replacement for the injured Jake Peavy, but needs to improve after he allowed five runs in four innings of a 15-5 win over Kansas City on July 11.

"Obviously, I want to show them I can take that spot," Hudson said. "You have to throw better than I did (against Kansas City), and my mindset is there right now."

Seattle counters with David Pauley (0-1, 1.00), who will face the White Sox for the first time.

Pauley entered the rotation earlier this month after Seattle traded ace Cliff Lee to Texas. Making his first start since he was with Boston in 2008, the right-hander allowed three runs - one earned - in five innings of a 6-1 loss to the New York Yankees on July 9.

"I thought he did a nice job last time and deserves another shot," manager Don Wakamatsu told the Mariners' official website.

Jose Lopez had two of Seattle's five hits Sunday, including a tiebreaking RBI single in the 10th. The third baseman is 4 for 9 in his last two games overall, and 8 for 22 with two homers and seven RBIs in his last five versus Chicago.