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White Sox, Twins play two at Target Field

Sep 5, 2011 - 2:56 PM (Sports Network) - The Chicago White Sox certainly didn't do themselves any favors over the weekend. They'll get two chances to rebound on Monday when they begin a four-game series with the Minnesota Twins with a doubleheader at Target Field.

The White Sox have lost four in a row and were outscored, 35-11, in getting swept in three games by the Tigers over the weekend. That knocked Chicago 8 1/2 games behind first-place Detroit in the American League Central with just one series left between the clubs.

Mark Buehrle was rocked in the start, getting charged with seven earned runs over 3 1/3 innings. He didn't get much help as three of Chicago's nine hits came in the ninth inning.

"A very bad weekend," said Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen. "We got here at the wrong time, I guess. Those guys swung the bat good all weekend and we couldn't stop it."

A series with the Twins could be what the White Sox need. Minnesota is just 3-11 in its past 14 games and has lost five of its past six versus Chicago.

The Twins were 4-1 losers to the Angels on Sunday and got their lone run on Joe Mauer's homer in the fourth inning. Kevin Slowey took the loss, yielding two runs over seven innings.

"I feel like I'm getting my rhythm down. I was down in the zone except to [a homer to Bobby] Abreu," Slowey said. "We're out there battling. It's tough to lose."

Philip Humber will get today's doubleheader started for the White Sox as he will return to the mound in the first game for the first time since getting hit above the right eye by a line drive on Aug. 18 versus the Indians. The right-hander was placed on the disabled list and gave up four runs in a rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte.

Humber, who pitched with Minnesota in 2008 and '09, is 8-8 with a 3.63 earned run average in 23 games this season and made his first career start versus the Twins on July 7. The 28-year-old was rocked for six runs -- all getting scored on singles -- over 3 2/3 innings to begin his current four-decision losing streak. He hasn't won since July 2.

Zach Stewart is slated to take the hill in the nightcap for Chicago and he has been beat up for 13 runs over his past two outings. He did not get a decision versus the Twins on Tuesday after giving up six runs over 4 2/3 frames of his team's 8-6 win.

The 24-yea-old righty is 1-2 with a 5.86 ERA in six games with the White Sox after starting the year with Toronto.

Stewart will be opposed by Twins lefty Scott Diamond, who will be making the fourth start of his career and is coming off his first victory after beating Chicago on Wednesday. He allowed three runs on three hits -- one a two-run homer by Brett Lillibridge -- over six inning, striking out five while moving to 1-2 with a 4.82 ERA.

"This is an unbelievable accomplishment. I really couldn't have done this without the guys on the team," the 25-year-old Diamond said.

Anthony Swarzak takes the hill for the Twins in the first game having lost back-to-back outings while going winless since Aug. 3. He lasted 4 1/3 frames versus Chicago on Tuesday, getting charged with eight runs -- six earned -- on six hits over 4 1/3 innings.

"They beat me when they had the chance," said Swarzak. "They got guys on and they got them in and that's what it's all about."

In 22 games this year, including six starts, the 25-year-old righty is 3-5 with a 4.14 ERA.