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White Sox-Orioles Preview

Aug 8, 2010 - 4:12 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (62-47) at Baltimore (36-73), 1:35 p.m. EDT

Now that the Chicago White Sox have ended Baltimore's unbeaten run under Buck Showalter, they can focus on securing a winning road trip.

Mark Buehrle tries to win his third straight decision as the AL Central-leading White Sox continue their four-game series with the Orioles on Sunday afternoon.

Carlos Quentin homered and Alex Rios drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as Chicago (63-47) evened the set with a 4-2 win Saturday. While the White Sox improved to 4-2 on an eight-game trip, Baltimore lost for the first time in five games since Showalter took over as manager Tuesday.

"I don't like losing," Showalter said. "The great thing about our game is that the positives and negatives don't last long. We've got another chance right around the corner."

The Orioles (36-74) have shown signs of life under Showalter but could not hold a 2-0 lead as the White Sox scored a run in each of the final three innings.

"You can see why Chicago's in first place," Showalter said. "They run quality pitching out there night after night, and they make runs matter at the end of the game. That's where we hope to be one day."

Baltimore could have a hard time bouncing back against Buehrle (10-8, 4.05 ERA). The left-hander allowed two runs in 7 2-3 innings of a 12-2 win over Detroit on Tuesday to improve to 2-0 with a 3.32 ERA in his last three starts.

"He just pounds the strike zone. That's all he does," Tigers' catcher Gerald Laird told the White Sox's official website. "He works so quick, so you have to be ready to swing."

Buehrle is 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 12 starts against Baltimore, which counters with Jeremy Guthrie (5-11, 4.21).

The right-hander record three wins in his first 19 starts but has a chance for a third in four outings Sunday. Guthrie, 2-1 with a 1.95 ERA in his last four starts, allowed three runs in seven innings of a 6-3 win over the Angels on Tuesday.

He is 2-0 with a 3.04 ERA in his last four starts at Camden Yards.

"Guthrie has as good an arm as there is in our league for a right-hander," Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. "He has good stuff, really good stuff. I know he's not having statistically a good year."

Guthrie is 2-3 with a 4.79 ERA in six starts against Chicago, going 0-2 with a 7.47 ERA in three at Baltimore.

Quentin, who has 22 home runs, is 3 for 6 with a homer against Guthrie.

Chicago could be without catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who left Saturday's game after injuring his ankle while running the bases in the seventh inning.

"I'll be fine. It's just a sprained ankle," said Pierzynski, who had two hits and an RBI. "I could have stayed in the game, but they wanted me to get out and put ice on it."

Adam Jones, who drove in the winning run in Baltimore's 2-1, 10-inning victory Friday, had two hits and an RBI on Saturday. He is 12 for 28 in his last seven games but 1 for 6 against Buehrle.