Rangers take down team with majors' best record
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Alfonso Soriano hit two home runs, then
gave credit to his teammates.
Michael Young and Mark Teixeira also homered, and rookie Chris
Young pitched eight strong innings as the Texas Rangers beat the
Chicago White Sox 6-2 on Friday night for their season-high seventh
straight victory.
The Rangers have hit 21 homers during their winning streak,
which is the longest active run in the majors.
"The whole team is working together," Soriano said. "The
pitching, defense and offense have been great. Chris Young was very
good tonight."
Texas swept consecutive three-game series against last-place
teams Houston and Kansas City, but the White Sox presented a more
formidable test with the best record in the majors.
"We probably caught them at the right time," Rangers manager
Buck Showalter said. "It's nice to get off to a good start against
a good club."
Young (5-2) allowed one run and six hits, struck out five and
didn't issue a walk to beat rookie Brandon McCarthy (0-1).
Young's fastball was clocked as high as 94 mph and he credited
catcher Rod Barajas for calling a good game.
"I had a good fastball and that was the key for me," said
Young, 3-0 with a 1.14 ERA in his last five starts. "I was able to
use my off-speed pitches off my fastball. Rod called a great game.
That makes it easy for me."
Young took a shutout into the seventh but Paul Konerko's leadoff
homer ended the bid.
Young began the season with a tenuous hold on a rotation spot,
but he's solidified his position by going eight innings in three
starts this season.
"He's a guy with a lot of determination, grit and want-to,"
Showalter said. "It makes it easy to trust him. That's pretty
impressive."
Willie Harris had an RBI single in the ninth off Texas reliever
Doug Brocail to make it 6-2 before Francisco Cordero relieved with
runners on first and second.
He got pinch-hitter Timo Perez to fly to left for his 16th save.
Left fielder Kevin Mench made a sliding catch to end the game.
McCarthy, who gave up six hits -- four homers -- and six runs over
five innings, was making his second major league start in place of
Orlando Hernandez, out with a right shoulder injury.
The White Sox optioned McCarthy to Triple-A Charlotte following
the game.
Teixeira's 12th homer in the first gave Texas a 1-0 lead, and
Soriano made it 2-0 in the second.
Young's sixth homer, a two-run shot in the fifth, and Soriano's
two-run homer later in the fifth, his 14th, stretched the Rangers'
advantage to 6-0.
Chicago's offense continues to sputter and the White Sox
appeared to be tired. The team arrived at its hotel in Texas at
4:30 a.m. on Friday after a redeye flight from Anaheim.
Four members of the White Sox lineup are in deep slumps: Juan
Uribe (4-for-45), Carl Everett (3-for-34), A.J. Pierzynski
(2-for-17) and Jermaine Dye (1-for-17).
"We looked like a dead man walking," manager Ozzie Guillen
said. "Young threw the ball pretty well but you can't take
anything away from him. We can make excuses that we were tired but
we didn't swing the bats good."
Game notes
Richard Hidalgo walked three times. Hidalgo had hit five
homers in his previous five games. ... Baylor coach Kim
Mulkey-Robertson of the NCAA women's national basketball champions
threw out the ceremonial first pitch. ... Soriano had his 10th
multihomer game and third this season. ... The Rangers are eight
over .500 (28-20) for the first time this season. ...The seven
victories have come at the start of the Rangers' current homestand.
...The White Sox fell to 4-4 on their current road trip. ... Texas
last won eight in a row last Aug. 13-21.
Regular Season Series
2022 American League Central Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minnesota | 21 | 15 | .583 | 0 | W2 |
Chicago | 18 | 18 | .500 | 3 | L1 |
Cleveland | 16 | 18 | .471 | 4 | L2 |
Kansas City | 13 | 22 | .371 | 7.5 | W1 |
Detroit | 13 | 24 | .351 | 8.5 | L1 |
2022 American League West Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Houston | 24 | 13 | .649 | 0 | W1 |
Los Angeles | 24 | 14 | .632 | 0.5 | L1 |
Texas | 15 | 19 | .441 | 7.5 | W2 |
Seattle | 16 | 21 | .432 | 8 | L2 |
Oakland | 15 | 23 | .395 | 9.5 | L3 |
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