White Sox send Rangers on road trip with beating
ARLINGTON, Texas - At least the Texas Rangers caught a break on a sixth-inning play against the Chicago White Sox Sunday when the a review stood giving the Rangers a strikeout on an apparent hit batter.
That was the only thing that went the way of the Rangers though as the White Sox trounced Texas 16-2 to end an otherwise outstanding homestand with a resounding thud while snapping a five-game winning streak for Texas.
Even with the break on the review, the White Sox scored three runs in the sixth inning to break open a 5-2 game. It was a more of a sign of what was to come though as the White Sox kept on hitting, including scoring seven times in the ninth off Hector Noesi.
By the time the game finally ended, Texas had given up the most runs it had allowed since Boston beat the Rangers 17-5 June 4, 2013. The highlight of that game was David Murphy'€™s pitching. Highlights Sunday were tougher to come by.
"Today was the White Sox's day," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "They hit balls that hit bags. They found holes. I think you've got to give them credit for putting the ball in play and making things happen. I'm not taking nothing away from those guys."
Robbie Ross (1-1) wasn't bad Sunday but he struggled at times with his location. He struck out eight but got burned twice on homers, once on a two-run shot by Jordan Danks in the second inning and another on a two-run homer by Jose Abreu in the fifth.
The fifth did both he and the Rangers in as what could have been a scoreless inning turned when Kevin Kouzmanoff couldn't turn a potential double play on a one-out grounder to third by Marcus Semien. Kouzmanoff'€™s throw to second sailed into right field. That opened things up for a three-run inning to break a 2-2 tie. All three of the runs were unearned.
Ross allowed seven runs, but only four were earned in his 5 1/3 innings. He didn't think the missed play by Kouzmanoff changed the game.
"It was just like I've got to bear down and get some outs," Ross said of his reaction to the error. "It happens sometimes. I left a pitch up to Abreu and he hit it. Obviously that happens. The guy is out there trying to bust his tail for you. I was trying to get an out and it just so happens I left a pitch over the middle (to Abreu)."
While the fifth was bad, things didn't get any better for Texas. The White Sox scored three more in the sixth despite the replay help, one in the seventh and seven in the ninth.
While Chicago scored at will, the Rangers had just two hits. One was a single off the glove of Abreu at first and the second was an infield single by Luis Sardinas in the eighth inning.
As ugly as Sunday was, the Rangers still won all three series on the 10-game homestand and went 7-3. That's what they are taking on a road trip that starts in Oakland Monday.
"It's just another game that got out of hand in the middle of the game," said shortstop Elvis Andrus, who took the American League lead with his ninth stolen base Sunday. "They were really clutch today with guys on. It was a great homestand. We've got to take the positives and get ready for the next series."