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Tigers-White Sox Preview

Aug 13, 2010 - 5:41 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Detroit (55-59) at Chicago (64-51), 8:10 p.m. EDT

After falling to second place in the AL Central, the Chicago White Sox will try to regroup by adding to their recent success against the Detroit Tigers.

Before getting a chance for revenge versus the team they're battling for the division lead, the White Sox look to take advantage of the slumping Tigers during a three-game set beginning Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

A 6-1 home win over Minnesota on Wednesday night pushed Chicago into a tie with the Twins in the Central. The White Sox, however, suffered a 6-1 defeat the next evening to lose a home series for the first time in nearly 2 1/2 months.

Chicago (64-51) left the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth innings while finishing 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

"We missed a lot of opportunities offensively," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We got people on base almost every inning and we couldn't get a base hit."

Guillen's club opens a six-game road trip Tuesday in Minnesota but first will try to earn its 12th win in 16 games against the Tigers (55-59). The White Sox picked up three of those victories during a four-game series at Comerica Park Aug. 3-5 and took two of three at U.S. Cellular from June 8-10.

Mark Buehrle (10-9, 4.04 ERA) will try to help his team break out of a 2-5 slump with his fifth straight win over the Tigers and second in 11 days. The left-hander gave up two runs over 7 2-3 innings in a 12-2 rout Aug. 3.

Buehrle has won seven of his last 10 decisions but lost Sunday in Baltimore, giving up four runs and 10 hits over seven innings in a 4-3 defeat.

He's 15-8 with a 2.95 ERA in 28 career starts against the Tigers, including 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA in seven matchups since July 23, 2007.

Detroit salvaged the finale of a three-game home series against Tampa Bay with a 3-2 victory Wednesday, but has dropped 22 of 29 overall and 12 of 13 on the road. The Tigers are 17-35 away from home, third-worst in the AL.

"Hopefully we're able to carry (the win over Tampa Bay) into Chicago and New York and beat up some tough teams," pitcher Justin Verlander said. "Chicago is one of the teams we need to catch and we need to gain some ground on them."

Jeremy Bonderman (6-7, 4.96) will make his first road start since a win over Minnesota on June 28. He has a 6.50 ERA in his last eight outings overall and lost his most recent one on three days' rest, giving up four runs and four walks over 4 1-3 innings in Saturday's 10-1 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels.

Bonderman had lost four straight starts versus the White Sox before winning his only game against them this year, going 6 2-3 strong innings in a 7-1 home victory Aug. 3. However, he's 2-5 with a 5.48 ERA in eight career games at U.S. Cellular.

The status of Chicago reliever Bobby Jenks is unknown after he left in the ninth inning of Thursday's loss with back spasms.