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White Sox look to extend AL Central advantage

Jul 27, 2008 - 3:24 PM Chi White Sox (59-43) at Detroit (52-51) 1:05 p.m. EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Chicago White Sox aim for a three-game series sweep Sunday when they visit the Detroit Tigers.

The White Sox have been winning courtesy of an offense that has scored 33 runs during their four-game winning streak, including 13 total in the first two games of this series.

Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye have combined for seven homers in eight games since the All-Star break and are the two most productive teammates in the AL with 50 combined blasts. Quentin paces the league with 27 homers and Chicago leads the AL with 143 as a team.

The recent surge has the White Sox 3 1/2 games ahead of the Minnesota Twins (56-47) in the AL Central and 7 1/2 ahead of the Tigers.

Chicago will go for the sweep behind righthander Javier Vazquez (7-8, 4.57 ERA), who has not earned a win since June 17 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is 0-3 with a 5.91 ERA over his last seven starts despite striking out 34 batters in 32 frames.

Vazquez lost at Detroit on June 11, allowing five runs and 10 hits in six innings.

Detroit will counter with righthander Zach Miner (4-3, 3.73). The 26-year-old was moved into the starting rotation on Monday after 32 appearances out of the bullpen and responded with six scoreless innings to earn the win against Kansas City.