(Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers take aim at their first three-game sweep in Chicago in 24 years this evening when they wrap up their set against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
Texas moved to the brink of a sweep on Wednesday, as Matt Treanor homered and drove in four runs, while Michael Young had three hits and three RBI, leading the Rangers to a 9-5 win.
Treanor clubbed his third home run of the season, hit a two-run double and recorded a sacrifice fly, while Young doubled twice for the Rangers, who have scored 18 runs in the first two contests of this series. Josh Hamilton added three hits, two runs scored and two RBI in the convincing victory.
Scott Feldman (3-5) was the beneficiary of the run support, earning his first road win of the season despite allowing five runs, eight hits and three walks in eight frames. He struck out three.
"That was huge right off the bat to have a lead," Feldman said. "(Chicago pitcher) Gavin Floyd is a good pitcher, and the way he was struggling tonight we were able to put a lot of runs on the board. That was the reason why we won -- scoring nine runs is great."
A win today would give the Rangers their first three-game Windy City sweep since turning the trick from June 2-4, 1986. Texas, though, did sweep the White Sox in a three-gamer in Arlington back in 2007.
The Rangers may again be without slugger Vladimir Guerrero, who missed last night's contest after a ball struck him above his left eye while he was taking batting practice prior to the game.
Paul Konerko moved into a tie atop the major league leaderboard in home runs this season with his 15th and 16th, although the White Sox lost for the third time in four games. He ended with three hits and four RBI in the setback.
Floyd (2-6) continued his struggles, allowing six runs on eight hits and three walks in just 2 2/3 innings. He has now dropped four of his last five decisions, as his earned-run average ballooned to a dismal 6.64.
"I guess it's tough to try to understand everything," Floyd said. "You just try to analyze it and learn from it and try to get better from it. You can't really look at this and try to blame everything. This is one of those outings you try to learn from."
Toeing the rubber for the Rangers tonight will be righty Colby Lewis, who has lost three of his last four decisions. Lewis was charged with the loss on Friday in Minnesota, despite a decent outing that saw him surrender two runs and five hits in six innings, dropping him to 4-3 on the year to go along with a 3.41 ERA.
Lewis is 1-2 in five games (three starts) against the White Sox with a 9.15 ERA.
Chicago will counter with veteran right-hander Freddy Garcia, who is 4-3 with a 5.26 ERA. Garcia won for the fourth time in his last five starts on Friday against the Rays, holding them to a pair of runs and four hits in seven innings.
Garcia has faced the Rangers 19 times and is 6-5 against them with a 4.39 ERA.
Texas took two of three from the White Sox earlier in the year and has won eight of the last 10 in the series.