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White Sox search for success in tilt with Indians

Apr 24, 2013 - 3:03 PM (Sports Network) - For the second time in less than a week the Chicago White Sox had a game postponed due to weather, which means the team is now preparing to close out a brief two-game series versus the Cleveland Indians this afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field.

Losers of four in a row, with a postponement against Minnesota on April 19 added in, the White Sox find themselves with the second-worst overall record in the American League with a mere seven wins in 19 outings. Chicago now finds itself in last place in the AL Central, but just four games out of first.

Just above the Sox in the division is Cleveland, a squad that has performed well on the road (6-4), but has been awful at home (2-6), the latter causing the team to be two games under .500 overall. Nevertheless, the Indians have strung together three straight wins, including a 3-2 victory in the first meeting of this series on Monday. Despite the overall losing record at the moment, the Tribe is 3-1 within the division.

On Monday, Cleveland starter Justin Masterson, who has a career record of just 43-54, logged his fourth win of the season in five outings as he permitted just two runs on four hits, although he did walk four, while striking out five over seven innings of action.

Over on the other side, Chicago's Dylan Axelrod lasted six innings, giving up just one run on three hits and a pair of walks, yet he failed to factor into the decision. Instead, it was Matt Thornton who was charged with the loss after permitting two runs on two hits and two bases-on-balls in just a single inning of action.

Taking on the White Sox for the second time in less than two weeks, right- hander Zach McAllister is heading to the hill for the visitors this afternoon. McAllister, who won the first outing versus the Sox on April 13 when he allowed three runs -- one earned -- on five hits while striking out six over 6 1/3 innings, has a career mark of 2-0 against today's opponent.

The Illinois native last pitched on Thursday when he was touched for three runs on six hits and three walks, fanning seven in five innings in a loss to Boston at home.

As for the White Sox, they still intend to go with Jose Quintana on the mound. The left-hander won his most recent outing with 6 2/3 shutout innings versus Toronto on the road last week. Quintana permitted five hits and two walks, striking out seven, which means he now has 17 strikeouts against four bases- on-balls over three games.

Having clashed with Cleveland four times in his career, Quintana has a record of 1-0 in those appearances, with one of the no-decisions coming on April 12 when he tossed an impressive seven innings, giving up just a single hit and striking out seven before exiting a game that finished 1-0 for the Indians at home.

In each of the last two seasons the White Sox have won the series against Cleveland by a count of 11-7.