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White Sox, Indians give it another try at Progressive

Jul 24, 2011 - 2:32 PM (Sports Network) - As the only team in the American League Central on the plus side when it comes to run differential, the Cleveland Indians try to bring an end to a three-game slide this afternoon as they entertain the Chicago White Sox in a series finale at Progressive Field.

Slated as a three-game set originally, these two division foes lost out on the middle game of the series due to Mother Nature and heavy rain that required a postponement of Saturday's matchup. While a makeup date has yet to be set, the teams will be back in Cleveland in late September and also have a pair of series remaining in the Windy City as well.

Cleveland, which has a plus-3 run differential, is currently a game off the pace set by the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central, while the Sox are 4 1/2 games back.

The last time the teams took the field, Cleveland finished with a total of only five hits, two of those coming from Lonnie Chisenhall who registered the lone extra-base hit for the club in a 3-0 setback in the series opener on Friday. Batting in front of Chisenhall in the lineup, Matt LaPorta didn't help matters with his three strikeouts in four at-bats.

Starter Carlos Carrasco was saddled with his eighth loss of the season as he allowed all three runs on six hits, walking four and striking out six over the course of 6 1/3 innings.

Chicago's Gavin Floyd was awarded the win, his eighth, as he held Cleveland scoreless through 7 2/3 innings, permitting just four hits and fanning five on 99 pitches.

Carlos Quentin accounted for all of the offense for the White Sox as he belted his 20th home run of the season, a three-run shot, in the fifth inning. Quentin accounted for three of the club's eight hits, while Adam Dunn tallied two hits but is still struggling with a woeful .163 batting average with his new club.

"I gave my team a chance to win today, so that's all I could ask for out of myself," said Quentin. "You know, the story is Gavin. He did unbelievable."

Scheduled to make the start against the White Sox this afternoon is Justin Masterson, the right-hander already having produced a 1-1 record against Chicago this season alone and is 2-3 in his career.

A product of San Diego State, Masterson pitched earlier this week against the Minnesota Twins on the road but didn't earn a decision as Cleveland bowed in a 2-1 final. Masterson allowed a mere four hits and struck out six through 7 2/3 innings of shutout baseball before being lifted. In the month of July Masterson has had a total of five appearances, permitting a total of just five runs during the stretch to lower his ERA to 2.64.

As for the Sox, they have kept the pitching assignment the same from yesterday, sending out Edwin Jackson who remains on the card following Saturday's rain out.

Even though the right-hander is four games under .500 (54-58) for his career, he's probably the perfect one to be heading to the mound this afternoon for the White Sox given that he's already beaten Cleveland once this season and has a stellar 8-1 career mark with a 2.70 ERA versus the club.

The nine-year veteran last pitched a week ago when he threw a shutout against Detroit on the road. During the 9-0 victory for Chicago, Jackson scattered nine hits and a pair of walks, striking out just two as he dropped his season ERA below 4.00.