(Best E Casino) - Mark Buehrle faces Texas for the first time since no- hitting it last season, as the Chicago White Sox continue their three-game series with the Rangers at U.S. Cellular Field.

Buehrle, who no-hit the Rangers on April 18 of last season, was 2-6 with a 5.20 earned run average back on June 1, but has won five of his seven decisions since, while lowering his ERA to 3.69.

The 29-year-old left-hander is starting a day earlier than scheduled so he can attend his grandfather's funeral on Wednesday. In five career starts on three days' rest he is 3-1 with a 2.94 ERA.

Buehrle is 9-3 lifetime against the Rangers with a 2.97 earned run average in 15 games, 12 of which have been starts.

Texas will counter with righty Luis Mendoza, who defeated the White Sox the last time he toed the rubber on July 11. Mendoza improved to 2-3 with a 6.28 ERA on the year with that victory, as he allowed a run and three hits in six innings.

In the opener of this set on Monday, Scott Feldman was solid on the mound and Josh Hamilton belted a three-run homer, helping Texas to a 6-1 win.

Recalled from Double-A Frisco prior to the game to start in place of Eric Hurley, Feldman (4-3) gave up one run on four hits in six innings to pick up the win. Frank Francisco, Eddie Guardado and Jamey Wright each hurled a scoreless inning in relief.

Hank Blalock hit a two-run homer for the Rangers, who have won two straight and leapfrogged Oakland -- which was blanked, 4-0, by Tampa Bay on Monday -- for second place in the AL West.

David Murphy doubled twice and scored a run, while Ian Kinsler went 0-for-4 with a run batted in. The All-Star second baseman is hitless in his last 17 at-bats following a career-high 25-game hitting streak.

Javier Vazquez (7-8) allowed three runs on four hits over seven innings to take the loss for Chicago, which has dropped three in a row and four of five overall.

Carlos Quentin homered for the White Sox, who remain just a half-game ahead of the Minnesota Twins -- who were walloped by the New York Yankees, 12-4 -- for the top spot AL Central.

Texas took two of three from the White Sox earlier in the season and is 7-3 against them since the start of last season.