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Floyd tosses six solid frames for eighth win

Last Sunday, the White Sox lost to the Tigers for their fifth straight defeat and fell 1 1/2 games behind Detroit in the American League Central.

Since then, Detroit has dropped four of five, while Chicago has reeled off five consecutive victories to vault back to the top of the division with a 2 1/2-game lead. That rebound has included wins in the first two games of the club's series against the Rangers in Arlington, which will conclude on Sunday night.

"The timing of everything is unique in baseball, the stretches that teams go through," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.

"Detroit, it was a long trip and coming off some tough games in Boston and not playing very well. We didn't play bad. Nothing happened offensively for us. But you have to let that go and continue to play. That's the most important thing for us. No matter what, just put it out of your mind in play. Hopefully, no one is looking at the scoreboard because it's a long, long way to go."

The White Sox, who acquired Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano after Saturday night's win, will send Gavin Floyd to the mound against Scott Feldman and the Rangers, who led the AL West by four games over the Angels entering Saturday.

Floyd (8-8, 4.46 ERA) returned from a brief stint on the disabled list to pick up a win against the Twins on Monday. The right-hander, who had been suffering from left elbow tendinitis, walked six and struck out one in six innings but held Minnesota to two earned runs. Floyd has posted a 2.84 ERA in three July starts despite issuing 13 free passes, against seven punchouts, in 19 innings.

Feldman (4-6, 5.37) originally was scheduled to pitch a day later against the Angels, but his start was moved up to give Roy Oswalt extra rest in his recovery from back stiffness.

"I think that whatever day they want us to pitch, that's up to them," said Feldman, whose last start came on Monday against the Red Sox. "I think either way would have been fine for both of us. I think I still had an extra day in between because of [Thursday's] off-day. It's no issue at all."

The veteran righty has bounced between the starting rotation and the bullpen this season. Oswalt's impending return could have sent Feldman back to a relief role, but with Colby Lewis having season-ending surgery on Friday, Feldman will remain a starter for now.

"I'm not really trying to think about anything that's going to distract me from what I'm trying to do," he said. "When they tell me to pitch, I'm going to pitch. I'm not going to spend time worrying about stuff that's out of my control."

Feldman went 0-6 with a 6.50 ERA over his first 12 games this season but has turned things around in his last five. He is 4-0 with a 3.81 ERA over that span, which included seven innings of one-run ball against Boston.

White Sox: Ramirez, Pierzynski expected to return
• Shortstop Alexei Ramirez and catcher A.J. Pierzynski both sat out Saturday's game but should be back in the lineup on Sunday.

Ramirez collided with center fielder Alejandro De Aza while they pursued a fly ball on Friday night. He overcame a sore left wrist to hit a two-run homer later in the game, but felt worse the next day and gave way to Eduardo Escobar. Meanwhile, a mild right oblique strain has kept Pierzynski on the bench for the past four contests.

The prognosis isn't quite so good for De Aza, who sustained a slight sprain of his left wrist. He was still bothered by the injury on Saturday and could be out on Sunday as well.

• Designated hitter Adam Dunn homered for the third time in his last six games on Saturday and is batting .391 (9-for-23) in that span, with two doubles, three walks and eight RBIs.

Rangers: Washington hoping day off energizes Hamilton
• Manager Ron Washington held Josh Hamilton out of the starting lineup on Saturday, saying his slumping slugger, "needed a mental break."

Hamilton was the AL Player of the Month for both April and May but has been locked in a 7-for-59 skid over his last 16 games, striking out 20 times. That included an 0-for-4 effort with a pair of strikeouts on Friday, although he also picked up two RBIs.

Hamilton suggested he is dealing with some physical issues but expressed confidence that a turnaround is coming.

"It's going to be good, folks ... fans out there, it's going to be good," he said. "Just hang in there."

• Adrian Beltre went 1-for-4 on Saturday out of the No. 3 spot in the order, the first time this season he has out of the fourth spot.

Worth noting
• This will be the final meeting in the season series, which the White Sox lead 6-2.

• Floyd has notched a 4.76 ERA in five career starts at Rangers Ballpark, including one in April.

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