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Verlander takes the hill in Chicago

Jul 26, 2011 - 2:37 PM (Sports Network) - Getting their tough 10-game homestand off to a good start was the first domino the White Sox needed to fall.

Beating Tigers Cy Young Award candidate Justin Verlander for a second time this season is the next step.

Chicago looks to secure a series victory tonight and deny Verlander his 14th win of the season in the middle contest of a three-game set with Detroit at U.S. Cellular Field.

Chasing the Tigers in the American League Central standings, the White Sox opened up a 10-game stretch versus playoff-caliber clubs on Monday as they are set to host the Red Sox and Yankees on this homestand as well. Chicago made sure it didn't dig its hole any deeper last night, securing a 6-3 win to pull within 3 1/2 games of first-place Detroit.

Paul Konerko hit a solo homer and drove in two runs and Carlos Quentin connected on a two-run ground-rule double in the fifth inning as the White Sox picked up a third straight victory. Starter Mark Buehrle went six innings, allowing two unearned runs while scattering 10 hits and a walk for the win.

"We've picked each other up. That's the key about a good attitude, a winning team," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Miguel Cabrera had a pair of hits, including a solo homer, but the Tigers saw their lead over the Indians in the AL Central dip to just one game. Detroit had won five of seven before the series opener, but saw Duane Below yield four runs over 4 2/3 innings in his second career start.

"We didn't do much offensively," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who was ejected between the fifth and sixth innings for arguing balls and strikes. "It wasn't like we were hitting the ball that good."

Leyland now turns to Verlander, who will try to become baseball's second 14- game winner, but the White Sox did have his number when they faced him over a week ago.

Verlander has allowed more than two runs in just one of his past 11 starts, going 9-2 in that span, but that slip up came at home against the White Sox on July 15. The right-hander was charged with five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits and two walks over six innings of an 8-2 setback.

Verlander did beat the Pale Hose in Chicago on June 4 with eight innings of two-run ball, but is still below .500 against the club in his career at 9-10 with a 4.45 earned run average.

The 28-year-old did manage to shake off his rough outing versus the White Sox with a victory over the Twins on Thursday. He gave up just one run on five hits over eight innings, striking out nine without a walk. He improved to 13-5 with a 2.24 ERA -- third-best in the league -- and only New York's CC Sabathia has more wins this year with 14.

Both Sabathia and Angels' 13-game winner Jered Weaver are also in action tonight, while Verlander leads the AL with 162 strikeouts. Leyland said after his win over the Twins that Verlander doesn't change his attitude from start- to-start.

"I think that his demeanor has been pretty good all year, pretty consistent," Leyland. "The concentration level has been outstanding."

Jake Peavy hopes to avoid a fourth consecutive losing appearance when he toes the rubber for the White Sox.

Peavy turned in his best outing of that span last time out in Kansas City on Tuesday, giving up three runs on seven hits over six innings of a 4-2 setback. Still, he was denied his first win since June 25 and fell to 4-4 with a 5.19 ERA this season.

"Just a few pitches too short, but at the same time a loss is a loss. I don't like losing," Peavy said.

The 30-year-old righty is 2-2 with a 3.24 ERA in four career starts versus the Tigers, who routed him for six runs on three hits and three walks in a June 5 game in Chicago. Peavy gave up all of his runs in the fourth inning, including a grand slam to Ryan Raburn to suffer the loss.

Chicago's victory in Monday's opener was only its fourth in 10 games versus Detroit this year and fifth in the past 19 meetings overall. The Tigers have still won seven of nine at U.S. Cellular Field in that span.