(Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers try to avoid a fifth straight loss this evening when they begin a three-game set against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
The Rangers, though, will have their work cut out for them, as they face a well-rested Mark Buehrle, who was tossed from his last start in the third inning after showing up umpire Joe West following his second balk of the game.
"I still don't know what he called a balk on," said Buehrle, who tossed his glove in disgust after West's second call. "I don't know if he thought I stepped to far or if my foot crossed over the rubber. It's a balk, but I honestly don't think I balked either time."
Buehrle, who, along with manager Ozzie Guillen, was fined by Major League Baseball on Friday for his actions in Wednesday's contest, had given up three hits without a run over his 2 1/3 innings of work.
The 31-year-old left-hander had pitched eight scoreless innings in his previous outing and is 3-5 on the year with a 4.38 ERA. He has also had success against the Rangers over the course of his career, going 11-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 18 games (15 starts).
Texas has managed just one win so far on its eight-game road trip and was swept in all three games over the weekend by the Minnesota Twins, losing 6-3 in Sunday's finale at Target Field.
Elvis Andrus finished 2-for-5 with an RBI, while Vladimir Guerrero had a hit and an RBI for Texas, which has dropped six of seven and has fallen a game back of the Oakland Athletics in the AL West.
The Rangers lost more than the game, however, as starter Derek Holland (2-1) was forced to leave in the second inning with an injury. Holland is headed to the disabled list, but it appears as though there is no structural damage to his left shoulder and has been diagnosed with mild inflammation of the left rotator cuff.
Texas is already without slugger Nelson Cruz, who went back on the disabled list Sunday with a strained hamstring suffered on Wednesday.
Cruz is having a stellar season for Texas, batting .327 with 10 home runs and 34 RBI in just 32 games. The Rangers' skid though coincides with his injury, as the team has totaled three runs or less in all four losses.
Hoping for a little run support tonight will be right-hander Rich Harden, who is 2-1 with a 5.14 ERA. Harden is unbeaten in his last seven starts, but has pitched to a 5.30 ERA in that span.
One of his two wins this season, though, came against the White Sox back on April 28 when he allowed three runs and four hits in six innings. He is 4-3 lifetime against them with a 3.19 ERA in eight starts.
Harden will be trying to slow down a White Sox club that split its four-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend, taking two of the final three games at Tropicana Field.
In Sunday's rubber match, Jayson Nix's grand slam in the top of the sixth inning proved to be the difference, as Chicago held on for an 8-5 win. Alex Rios went 3-for-5 with a solo homer for the White Sox, who went 4-3 on a seven-game road trip.
Jake Peavy (4-4) lasted 5 1/3 innings in the start, allowing five runs on 10 hits. He also fanned five batters to snap a two-start losing streak.
Texas took two of three from the White Sox earlier in the year and has won six of the last eight in the series.