|
 Third baseman Joey Gallo homered and drove in a franchise-record
four runs in his major league debut, powering the Rangers to a 15-2
victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night at Globe Life
Park.
The Rangers (27-25) opened the three-game series with their 11th win
in the last 13 games. Texas is two games above .500 for the first
time this season.
Gallo was the story coming into the game after being called up
earlier in the day from Double-A to replace injured third baseman
Adrian Beltre in the lineup. The sweet-swinging lefty stole the show
with hits in his first three at-bats before finishing 3-for-4 and a
triple shy of the cycle.
Gallo's first two hits each drove in two runs, including a monster
homer to right in the third. The 21-year-old slugger nearly hit
another out in the fifth, doubling off the right-field wall.
White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija couldn't figure out the rookie or
many other Rangers for that matter. The right hander dropped to 4-3
after giving up seasons highs in runs (nine) and hits (12) in five
innings, which matched his shortest stint in 11 outings.
Texas set a season best with 19 hits and tied their high for runs.
Eight rangers had multiple hits, with right fielder Shin Soo Choo
joining Gallo with three.
Choo and catcher Carlos Corporan also added homers for Texas.
Corporan had five RBI.
Chicago (23-27) managed six hits in seven innings against Texas
starter Colby Lewis, who improved to 5-3 after bouncing back from
his worst showing of the year.
The White Sox, last in the American League in runs allowed in the
first inning, found themselves in another hole early thanks, in
large part, to Gallo.
The Rangers jumped out to 4-0 lead in the opening frame by stringing
together five hits after Samardzija got the first two outs of the
inning. Samardzija has now allowed 14 earned runs in the first
inning this season in 11 starts.
Included in Texas' barrage was the Gallo's first major league hit, a
blistering two-run single that White Sox first baseman Adam LaRoche
couldn't get in front of and put the Rangers on the board.
[to top of second column] |
Rangers center fielder Leonys Martin drove in next two runs with
single to right.
The White Sox cut the deficit in half against Texas starter Colby
Lewis on center fielder Adam Eaton's two-run blast into the
right-field upper deck in the third. Eaton battled Lewis for nine
pitches before launching his third home run.
Gallo went even deeper in the upper deck in the bottom of the
inning, a two-run shot that also scored shortstop Elvis Andrus.
Gallo came out for a curtain call.
Right fielder Shin Soo Choo made it 7-2 with a solo homer to
right-center in the fourth.
NOTES: Rangers OF Josh Hamilton was out of the lineup due to
tightness in his left hamstring. He described the move as
precautionary. ... Texas 3B Joey Gallo, the club's top prospect,
made his major league debut, starting in place of injured 3B Adrian
Beltre, who went on the 15-day disabled list. Gallo was batting .314
with nine home runs and 31 RBIs in 34 Double-A games before the
Rangers purchased his contract Tuesday. Beltre sprained his left
thumb Sunday. ... White Sox 1B Jose Abreu was out of the starting
lineup for the third consecutive game with a swollen right index
finger. Manger Robin Ventura expects Abreu to play at some point
during the series. ... The Rangers optioned LHP Alex Claudio to
Triple-A and recalled OF Jake Smolinski.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
