(Sports Network) - Freddy Garcia tries to win his third straight start this evening, when the Chicago White Sox continue their three-game series with the Detroit Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field.
Garcia won for the fifth time in his last six starts Thursday against Texas, holding the Rangers to three runs (two earned) and seven hits in seven innings to improve to 5-3 while lowering his ERA to 4.94.
The 33-year-old righty beat the Tigers back on May 18 and is an impressive 17-6 lifetime against them with a 3.73 ERA in 27 starts.
Chicago will need a big effort from Garcia if it is going to even this series. Detroit drew first blood on Tuesday, as Brennan Boesch hit a three-run homer during a six-run seventh inning which lifted the Tigers to a 7-2 victory.
Carlos Guillen, who finished 3-for-5, added a homer and Ryan Raburn hit a two- run double during the big inning as the Tigers won for the fourth time in six games.
The sudden surge of offense bailed out Armando Galarraga, who made his first start since his near-perfect game last Wednesday. Galarraga allowed seven hits -- one a two-run homer by Mark Kotsay -- and two walks in five innings.
"Every game is a different story. I changed the page," Galarraga said. "Now I need to work at this game and for my next game, and I need to watch the new videos and do everything again."
Matt Thornton (2-3) allowed five runs during the seventh inning for the White Sox, who have dropped five of seven.
Getting the call for the Tigers this evening will be righty Rick Porcello, who is 4-5 with a 5.25 ERA. Porcello did not get a decision on Thursday against Cleveland and surrendered six runs (three earned) and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 12-6 win.
Porcello has lost both of his starts to the White Sox, including one earlier in the year. He has also pitched to a 6.57 ERA in those two appearances against them.
These teams played a rare one-game series earlier in the year, with Chicago walking away with the win. It had been a scheduled two-game set, but the opener was postponed by rain and will be made up on August 3.