(Sports Network) - The Chicago White Sox are alone at the top of the AL Central standings again, and will resume a three-game series versus the Seattle Mariners tonight from U.S. Cellular Field.

Chicago entered last night's series opener tied with Minnesota for the top spot in the division, but a 13-5 drubbing of the Mariners, coupled with the Twins' setback to Oakland, gave the White Sox sole possession of first place. Carlos Quentin continued his campaign for MVP by clubbing his major league- leading 35th home run of the season.

Nick Swisher hit a two-run homer, while Alexei Ramirez and Orlando Cabrera also went deep for the Pale Hose. Chicago also scored 13 runs for the second straight game and registered its third consecutive victory.

Mark Buehrle survived a rough opening frame to go 5 2/3 innings for the win, giving up five runs on 11 hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

Taking the ball for the White Sox on Tuesday will be rookie Clayton Richard. Richard is 0-2 with a 9.64 earned run average in four games (three starts) this season, and notched a no-decision on August 17 at Oakland. He pitched an inning of scoreless relief with a pair of strikeouts.

In his last start on August 3 at Kansas City, Richard allowed nine runs -- five earned -- and 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings of work. The left-hander has never faced Seattle.

Meanwhile, the Mariners have dropped four straight and eight of their last nine games. In Monday's 13-5 pounding by the White Sox, starting pitcher Jarrod Washburn was reached for eight runs on seven hits with two walks in just 4 1/3 frames to suffer the loss.

Ichiro Suzuki went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and Yuniesky Betancourt added a solo home run in defeat.

Felix Hernandez will handle pitching duties for the Mariners on Tuesday, and he is 7-7 with a 3.04 earned run average in 23 starts this season. Hernandez is winless over his last five starts (0-1) and has posted back-to-back no- decisions, including an August 13 performance at Angel Stadium.

Hernandez surrendered four runs and eight hits in seven frames of his team's 10-7 victory over the Angels. The righty is 1-1 with a 5.01 earned run average over four career starts against Chicago.

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