Mark Buehrle hopes to end his 2010 campaign on a winning note this evening when theChicago White Sox continue their season-ending three-game set against the Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field.
Buehrle was 12-9 following a win in Minnesota on August 19, but the wheels came off for him after that, as he has lost four decisions since, including his last three starts. On Monday against Boston, Buehrle surrendered four runs and 11 hits in six innings to fall to 12-13 on the year to go along with a 4.32 ERA.
"Buehrle struggled, and when you make mistakes, they're going to hurt you," said White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen.
Buehrle has faced the Indians 42 times (41 starts) and is 12-15 against them with a 4.68 ERA.
Cleveland, meanwhile, will pin its hopes on 23-year-old right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who is 2-1 with a 3.26 ERA. Carrasco beat the Detroit Tigers on Monday, holding them to three runs and 11 hits in six innings.
Carrasco did not get a decision in his only other start against Chicago.
The Indians won their seventh straight game in the opener of this set on Friday, as Shin-Soo Choo kept up his hot hitting with a two-run blast, and the Cleveland rolled to a 7-3 win.
Choo, who hit six homers and drove in 25 runs in 27 September games, hit his 22nd home run of the year for Cleveland, which last won seven straight from August 17-27, 2008, when it won 10 in a row. Asdrubal Cabreraadded three hits, while Trevor Crowe had two hits and two RBI in the win.
Fausto Carmona (13-14) improved to 3-0 against Chicago this season after allowing two runs, five hits and a walk while fanning seven in six frames.
"He was very consistent for us throughout the whole season. He always put us in position to win," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "He started out a little dicey, but adjusted after the second inning."
Brent Morel homered for the White Sox, who had a three-game win streak snapped. Tony Pena (5-3) was hammered for six runs and nine hits in six innings to receive the loss.
"Carmona is always going to have good stuff as long as he's healthy. He's one of the hardest guys to hit," Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said.
Cleveland has won nine of its 16 meetings with the White Sox this season, including five of the seven matchups in Chicago.
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