Boston @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 30, 2011 ) Boston 10, Chi. White Sox 2

THE STORY: The Boston Red Sox have had an easy time with most teams in the American League this season, but could not seem to solve the Chicago White Sox. Until Saturday, that is. After the offense took a couple days off for their first back-to-back losses in July, the Red Sox made sure their losing streak would not hit three games when they pounded out 10 runs Saturday night. The White Sox, desperately trying to climb above .500 and stay in the race in the AL Central, squandered an opportunity in the setback. Host Chicago will be looking to bounce back when it sends veteran ace Mark Buehrle to the mound in the rubber match of the three-game set on Sunday afternoon.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, TBS, NESN (Boston), CS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Mark Buehrle (8-5, 3.22 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Andrew Miller (4-1, 5.45).

Buehrle has allowed three earned runs or less in each of his last 15 starts and is coming off an outing against Detroit on Monday in which he went six innings to pick up a win. The veteran lefthander has not walked more than one batter in his last four turns. Buehrle has had mixed success against Boston in his career, posting a 6-6 record with a 4.57 ERA in 16 games - 15 starts. Miller may be running out of chances in the Red Sox rotation. After allowing three earned runs or less in each of his first four starts, the 26-year-old has gotten knocked around for at least five earned runs in two of his last three turns. He was lit up for seven runs - five earned - in 3 2/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (52-53): Chicago had its seven-game winning streak against Boston come to an end with Saturday’s 10-2 setback. After jumping up to .500 with a win in the series opener Friday, the White Sox failed to climb above the mark for the first time since they were 7-6 on April 15. The Detroit Tigers’ loss earlier in the day kept Chicago within three games in the Central, however, close enough that Sunday’s non-waiver trade deadline should not include much selling on the part of White Sox general manager Kenny Williams. Jason Frasor, who was acquired in a trade earlier in the week from the Toronto Blue Jays, made his Chicago debut Saturday with two-thirds of an inning of scoreless relief.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (65-40): Boston general manager Theo Epstein was busy Saturday, closing a deal with the Kansas City Royals to bring infielder Mike Aviles to the team in exchange for infielder Yamaico Navarro and Class A pitching prospect Kendal Volz. Reports later Saturday surfaced that the Red Sox had acquired righthander Rich Harden from the Oakland Athletics, pending a physical on the oft-injured pitcher. On the field, Boston bounced back after managing four runs in two straight losses with a 10-run, 15-hit effort against Chicago. Adrian Gonzalez homered for the first time in 73 at-bats, and Kevin Youkilis, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Marco Scutaro each drove in multiple runs. Aviles ended up making his debut in the field, replacing Youkilis at third base in the ninth.

FINAL PITCH: Boston’s need for another starter has gotten more serious the longer Clay Buchholz has been out. Buchholz will travel to Los Angeles on Monday to see back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins. The righthander has not pitched since June 16.