(Sports Network) - The American League Central division-leading Chicago White Sox will shoot for their fifth straight win and a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners this afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field.

Chicago remained one game ahead of the Minnesota Twins in the division standings following Tuesday's 5-0 victory in the second test of this series. Jim Thome and Nick Swisher homered for the White Sox, who have won seven of their last eight games and improved to 2-0 on a six-game homestand. Carlos Quentin had two hits and an RBI in the victory and is batting .588 (10-for-17) with three homers and seven RBI over the past five games.

Rookie starter Clayton Richard earned his first career victory with six shutout innings, allowing five hits and one walk. Richard's performance on the mound pushed Chicago's home record to 44-19 this season.

White Sox young hurler Gavin Floyd will try to stretch his unbeaten streak to six games today, when he takes the ball for manager Ozzie Guillen. Floyd is 2-0 over his last five starts, with the Pale Hose going 4-1 over that run.

Floyd is 12-6 with a 3.75 ERA in 24 starts after Friday's no-decision against the Oakland Athletics. In Chicago's 6-4 loss at McAfee Coliseum, Floyd yielded two runs -- one earned -- and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

The right-hander, who has won four of his previous six decisions, will face Seattle for the second time this season. Floyd was saddled with the loss on May 11 in the Emerald City, where he gave up five runs and nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings of work.

Floyd is winless (0-2) with a whopping 10.13 earned run average through four career starts against the Mariners.

Seattle has lost five straight and nine of its last 10 games. In last night's shutout setback in the Windy City, starting pitcher Felix Hernandez was saddled with the loss after surrendering five runs on 11 hits.

Miguel Cairo, Raul Ibanez and Adrian Beltre each had hits for Seattle, which is 1-6 on an eight-game road trip and 22-41 as the visitor this season.

Taking the ball for the Mariners on Wednesday will be R.A. Dickey, who has just one win over his last 11 outings (1-4) and hasn't recorded a victory (0-1) in his four most recent trips to the hill.

Dickey last pitched in relief of an 11-8 loss at Minnesota on Sunday, allowing a pair of runs and three hits in just 1 1/3 innings. He is 3-7 with a 4.92 earned run average in 23 games (12 starts) this season.

The right-handed Tennessee product is 0-1 with a 5.56 ERA in three career relief appearances versus the White Sox.

The White Sox won two of three games against the Mariners at Safeco Field from May 9-11 of this season. Seattle went 7-1 in the 2007 season series, with a 2-1 record in the Windy City.

Chicago hasn't swept the M's at home since the 2004 campaign.