Hamilton helps Rangers beat White Sox 7-2

[July 12, 2008]  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Josh Hamilton drove in two more runs, Luis Mendoza rebounded from a rough outing to strike out eight over six innings and the Texas Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox 7-2 Friday night.

Hamilton, who will start for the American League in Tuesday's All-Star game, went 3-for-5 and leads the majors with 93 RBIs. He has driven in 11 over his last seven games.

Pitching on three days' rest, Mendoza (2-3) allowed just three hits and one walk to win for the first time in six starts. He allowed eight runs in 1 1-3 innings in Texas' 9-6 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday.

Gavin Floyd (10-5) lasted just 2 2-3 innings in his shortest outing of the season for the White Sox. Floyd, who was 6-1 in his previous eight starts, walked a career-high seven and allowed six runs.

Jim Thome hit his 524th career homer in the seventh for the White Sox, who had won 11 of 14.

Ian Kinsler extended his hitting streak to 23 games, tying fellow Rangers All-Star Michael Young for the longest in baseball this season. David Murphy and Chris Davis homered for Texas, which leads the majors in runs scored.

Eddie Guardado got Paul Konerko to fly out with the bases loaded in the ninth to earn his second save of the season.

The Rangers scored five runs in the third to take a 6-0 lead, taking advantage of Floyd's control problems.

Young reached on a leadoff walk and scored on Hamilton's double. Murphy then hit a two-run drive to right on a 1-2 pitch for his 13th homer of the season.

Floyd allowed more two walks and a hit to load the bases. Ramon Vazquez walked to force in a run, and the White Sox brought in D.J. Carrasco to relieve Floyd.

Young capped the third-inning scoring with another bases-loaded walk.

That was plenty of offensive support for Mendoza, who allowed three home runs in the second inning Monday.

Mendoza allowed only one walk through three innings before yielding consecutive doubles to A.J. Pierzynski and Carlos Quentin leading off the fourth.

Chicago almost scored a second run in the inning but Texas left fielder Brandon Boggs threw out a runner at the plate for a second straight game. Boggs nailed Quentin trying to score on Jim Thome's flyball.

Notes:@ White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he has no interest in signing career home run king Barry Bonds even if his team had an opening for a designated hitter or left fielder. "I don't like a player like Barry Bonds on my ballclub," Guillen said. "He's a Hall of Famer, to me the best player in the history of baseball no matter what. But he's not the type of player we're looking for in this organization." ... Rangers DH Milton Bradley missed his third straight game with a sore left knee, but manager Ron Washington insisted Bradley won't miss the All-Star game. ... Hamilton asked 71-year-old volunteer coach Clay Council to pitch to him during Monday's Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium. Council, who lives in Cary, N.C., has thrown batting practice to Hamilton since he was in high school.

[Associated Press; By DAVID JIMENEZ]

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