Chicago @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 17, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 2, Minnesota 3
On a rare losing streak, the Chicago White Sox will try to gain a split in their four-game series with the Minnesota Twins when the teams wrap up the set Sunday at Target Field.
After winning the series opener on Thursday for its ninth consecutive victory, Chicago has lost the last two games, its first back-to-back losses in almost a month and a half.
Despite the mini-skid, the White Sox still lead the division by 1 1/2 games over the Detroit Tigers, who have lost four straight, including three to the lowly Cleveland Indians. Minnesota is 2 1/2 games behind Chicago, which is 26-7 in its last 33 games.
The White Sox scored 60 runs during its nine-game win streak but has managed just six in the last two games against the Twins. On Saturday, they were held in check by Twins starter Carl Pavano, who went the distance for his fourth complete game of the season.
Looking to regain their winning ways, the White Sox send Freddy Garcia to the mound today.
Garcia (9-3, 4.36 ERA) has not lost in nearly two month and will be going for his seventh straight win. The last time Garcia was on the wrong end of a decision was on May 23, when he had nothing and was shelled for seven runs and seven hits in 2 1/3 innings of a 13-0 loss to the Florida Marlins.
In the eight starts since the Florida debacle, Garcia has allowed three runs or fewer seven times. He will be looking to continue his success against Minnesota - he is 10-6 with a 3.70 ERA in 20 career starts against the Twins.
While Garcia just can't seem to lose, the Twins will counter with a starter who is having a hard time picking up wins in Nick Blackburn.
Blackburn (7-7, 6.40) is 1-6 and has seen his ERA balloon by almost 2 1/2 runs since an 8-2 victory over the New York Yankees on May 27. Since that win, Blackburn has allowed less than five runs just twice in eight starts. He has given up 14 runs and 16 hits in 10 1/3 innings in his last two outings combined.
Blackburn had better start to turn things around or he risks being yanked out of the starting rotation. It's hard to imagine a team contending for a division title while sending a pitcher with an ERA near seven out there every fifth day, but at least Blackburn can point to some success against Chicago.
In 13 games, including 12 starts, Blackburn is 6-5 with a much more respectable 3.62 ERA.