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White Sox back in first, take on Royals

Aug 13, 2008 - 10:09 AM Kansas City (54-65) at Chicago (66-52) 8:11 p.m. EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago White Sox find themselves back in first place and will look to keep hold of the top spot when they take on the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

Chicago's 9-0 win Tuesday, combined with the Minnesota's 9-6, 12-inning loss to the New York Yankees, catapulted it back into the American League Central lead, a half-game ahead of the Twins.

The White Sox are 5-3 on their current 10-game homestand and have two more left with the Royals.

Chicago starter Mark Buehrle (9-10, 3.94) was knocked around last time out against Kansas City on August 2. The lefthander allowed 14 hits and eight earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. The eight runs were the most he has allowed since the Chicago Cubs roughed up Buehrle for 10 earned in July of 2006.

The 29-year-old has been solid at home, posting a 6-3 record and 2.97 ERA. In his last eight starts at U.S. Cellular Field, Buehrle is 6-1, allowing over two runs a game.

Luke Hochevar (6-10, 5.54), the first overall selection in the 2006 draft, has lost three straight decisions and five-of-six overall.

The 24-year-old has made two previous starts against the Tigers. Hochevar pitched six shutout innings in a home start on May 14, but was lit up for seven earned runs and eight hits in five innings at Detroit on July 21.

The road start will be his first since July 6 after taking the mound at home five straight times. The righthander allowed a combined 13 runs in 10 innings in his last two road starts against the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles.