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Rangers-White Sox Preview

May 8, 2009 - 5:21 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Texas (15-12) at Chicago (12-14), 8:11 p.m. EDT

The Chicago White Sox turned to their staff ace and received a brilliant effort to end their longest losing streak of the season. They likely won't be expecting a repeat performance Friday night.

Jose Contreras again looks to end his horrible start to the season and help the White Sox win their second straight in the opener of a three-game series with the Texas Rangers.

Mark Buehrle retired the first 19 batters Thursday and allowed one hit over eight innings, leading Chicago (13-14) to a 6-0 victory over Detroit that snapped a four-game skid.

The White Sox, who dropped two of three at Texas last weekend, have won all six of Buehrle's starts but are 7-14 in other games. They've lost all five starts by Contreras (0-4, 8.31 ERA).

The right-hander yielded at least five runs in three of those five outings. He gave up a season-high seven runs in a season-low 3 1-3 innings of a 9-6 loss to the Rangers on Saturday.

Although Contreras has been awful, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is planning on sticking with him in the rotation for the foreseeable future. Guillen had the opportunity to skip his beleaguered starter because of Wednesday's rainout but is giving the veteran a chance to get out of his funk.

"I don't want to give up on him, it's not my style, but I'd like to know what's going through his mind," Guillen said.

Contreras, who hasn't won since beating the Cubs on June 27, has allowed 14 runs in 7 1-3 innings in two starts against the Rangers since the start of last season. In five career starts versus Texas, Contreras is 1-2 with a 10.17 ERA - his highest ERA against any team he's faced more than once.

A.J. Pierzynski continued his torrid hitting Thursday with a two-run homer in the first inning. He's 13 for 24 (.542) with three home runs and seven RBIs in his last six games.

The Rangers (15-13) had a five-game winning streak snapped in Thursday's 9-4 loss to Oakland.

Texas boasts one of the most potent lineups in the AL, but was 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position Thursday after going 16 for 49 (.327) in such situations over the previous five contests.

Third baseman Michael Young had two doubles Thursday to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Young, batting .408 (20 for 49) with two home runs and seven doubles during that stretch, was 6 for 13 with a double against Chicago last weekend.

Shortstop Ian Kinsler was 5 for 11 with two home runs and five RBIs against the White Sox last week. He's 6 for 8 with four doubles lifetime versus Contreras.

The Rangers will give the ball to Matt Harrison (2-2, 6.41), who's set to make his second straight start against Chicago.

After allowing at least four runs in each of his first four starts, Harrison gave up six hits in five scoreless innings of a 5-1 win Sunday. He didn't issue a walk for the first time this season but went deep into counts and threw 100 pitches before being lifted.

"I'm pleased with five scoreless, I just wish it could have been longer," the left-hander told the Rangers' official Web site. "Hopefully I can keep going with what I'm doing."