Florida @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( May 21, 2010 ) Florida 0, Chi. White Sox 8
Mark Buehrle was able to end his slump against the Florida Marlins. Gavin Floyd is hoping for a similar outcome.
Floyd looks to stop a horrendous stretch on Saturday when he takes the mound for the Chicago White Sox against the Marlins.
On Friday night, Buehrle halted a slide in which he went 0-5 with a 6.44 ERA in six starts, allowing just three hits in eight superb innings of an 8-0 victory. Floyd is seeking his first win since April 29, when he limited the Texas Rangers to one earned run in seven frames.
Since then, the 27-year-old Floyd has been brutal, going 0-2 and surrendering 16 runs and 28 hits in 18 2/3 innings (7.72 ERA) over three starts. Prior to his victory over the Rangers, the right-hander also struggled, yielding 16 runs and 22 hits in 13 1/3 frames in three outings.
Buehrle was helped by a strong offensive performance by Chicago. Alexei Ramirez homered and matched a career high with five RBIs, while former Marlin Mark Kotsay collected three of his team's 12 hits - including a solo blast - and scored three times.
With Friday's triumph, the White Sox improved their all-time interleague record to 129-101, including a 70-44 mark at home. Chicago has won 17 of its last 23 contests against National League opponents.
Entering this series with the National League's best winning percentage in interleague play at .548 (120-99), the Marlins dropped to 4-3 all-time against the White Sox. They hope to avoid falling to .500 as Chris Volstad tries to end a personal two-game skid.
The 23-year old Volstad won three of four decisions before falling to the Chicago Cubs on May 12. Five days later, the right-hander yielded just two earned runs in five innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks but was on the losing end of a 5-1 contest.
Volstad will need Florida to capitalize better than it did against Buehrle.
The Marlins led off the third and sixth innings with doubles but were unable to take advantage both times. Wes Helms was erased on a fielder's choice immediately after opening the third with a two-base hit, while Gaby Sanchez was doubled off second base two batters after beginning the sixth with his double - and Florida's last hit of the game.
Chris Coghlan, who entered Friday with at least one hit in 11 of his previous 12 contests, went 0-for-4.
The White Sox have won just three of their last eight games, while the Marlins have lost only three of their last nine.