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 Ryan Rua delivered the final blow with a three-run homer to center
field off White Sox reliever Matt Albers.
Chicago's bullpen began the day with a major league-leading 1.98
ERA. But it was an unheralded member of the Rangers bullpen, Alex
Claudio, who earned the win by allowing just one run over 4 1/3
innings.
It was the largest comeback win by the Rangers since in the last
four seasons.
"What a team. That was one of the best games I ever played in my
life," said Rangers outfielder Ian Desmond, who hit a two-run triple
two batters ahead of Rua's blast. "So many good things happened in
that game, I don't know if I'm going to be able to sleep tonight."
The White Sox led 10-5 after four innings when they scored nine runs
over two innings following an extended rain delay.
Desmond also homered in the seventh inning as the Rangers collected
17 hits to Chicago's 13 in the four hour, 40 minute game.
Albers walked Rangers DH Prince Fielder on four pitches just before
facing Rua in the eighth. Albers was ahead 1-2 when Rua connected to
give the Rangers the lead.
 "He beat me with two good fastballs inside that I kind of took some
bad swings on," Rua said. "But in the back of my mind I kind of
thought he'd try to beat me again. Luckily it was elevated over the
plate and I was short to it and put the barrel on it.
It's deep out there to center, especially with the wind tonight you
never know. But off the bat it felt really well."
Albers said he pitched around Fielder to get to Rua.
"I got to 1-2,and was beating him in, and was trying to go away and
the ball leaked right back down the middle," Albers said. "It's
frustrating. We should have won that game. Any time the bullpen
loses a game like that it's tough."
Shawn Tolleson earned his 11th save with a clean ninth to preserve
the win for Claudio.
"You can talk about the hitting of Rua and the pinch hitters and the
ABs," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "But Alex Claudio, for a
guy who's probably the second-to-last guy in the bullpen, who sits
down in the bullpen and never says anything. He just kept
challenging hitters, going at them. "
The comeback spoiled a chance for White Sox starter Carlos Rodon to
earn his first win since April 13. Rodon left with a lead after 6
2/3 innings despite giving up six runs on 12 hits.
"We've been using these [bullpen] guys a lot," White Sox manager
Robin Ventura said. "It was an off night, I think, bullpen wise and
that's going to happen in a long season. As far as faith in these
guys going forward, we have all that. Tonight's a tough night. They
had a big inning. This is a ballpark that you've got to be careful."
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Avisail Garcia's bases-clearing double in the fourth gave the White
Sox a 10-5 lead during a five-run inning.
Rangers reliever Anthony Ranaudo issued five walks in the inning,
the last three loading the bases for Garcia who lofted a double to
left off Alex Claudio. Garcia also extended his hitting streak to 11
games with the double.
One inning earlier, the White Sox took a 5-2 lead with a four-run
inning. Todd Frazier had a two-run single while Melky Cabrera and
Brett Lawrie hit back-to-back RBI doubles to fuel the rally.
The Rangers' Bryan Holaday tied it 5-5 in the bottom of the third
with a three-run homer to left field.
The run explosion in the third and fourth innings came after a one
hour, 18 minute delay for a thunderstorm that blew through Globe
Life Park.
Just before the delay, Rangers starter Derek Holland threw a 1-2-3
inning in the second with two strikeouts. When play resumed, he gave
up five hits and a walk and exited after 2 1/3 frames.
NOTES: Rangers DH Prince Fielder batted fifth for the first time
since Sept. 17, 2006, when he was with Milwaukee. The struggling
Fielder, who came into the game batting .192 with a .280 slugging
percentage, had either third or fourth this season. ... Rangers OF
Delino DeShields was back at the leadoff spot for the first since
April 27. Rougned Odor dropped to the No. 2 spot. ... Rangers RHP
A.J. Griffin had a precautionary MRI of his stiff shoulder on
Tuesday, but team physician had not analyzed the results by game
time. ... Rangers OF Shin-Soo Choo was scheduled to play in an
extended spring training game Tuesday in Arizona. ... Rangers OF
Josh Hamilton continues to rehab his left knee but the Rangers
announced there is no timetable for his return. ... White Sox GM
Rick Hahn said RHP Miguel Gonzalez, Monday's spot starter, will get
a chance to get several starts in a row as the fifth starter,
beginning Sunday at the Yankees. ... The White Sox love the late
innings. In addition to having the best bullpen ERA in the majors
(1.98), the White Sox have scored 66 of their 139 runs (47.5
percent) in the seventh inning or later. ... The White Sox came into
the game looking for their fifth win in a row and their third
winning streak of at least five games this season.
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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