The righthander has won his first four starts, equaling his
victory total of last season. He allowed a run in six innings as the
Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 41 on Sunday.
"I've been grateful and fortunate," Latos said. "The offense has
picked me up, swung the bat really well on days that I've pitched.
I've been able to keep zeroes on the board, and the defense has
shown up behind me."
After sweeping the Rangers at U.S. Cellular Field for the first time
since 2012, the White Sox lead the American League with 13 wins.
Latos worked out of jams as he allowed a seasonhigh seven hits. He
gave up six combined hits in his previous three starts. He is 40
after he went 410 with a 4.95 ERA with three teams last season.
"I battled today," Latos said. "I didn't have good fastball command.
I fell behind in the count early, I was lucky, I got away with a
couple pitches. The defense picked me up and so did the offense."
With runners at the corners in the sixth, Latos fielded a comebacker
to begin an inningending double play. He pumped his fist as he
walked toward the dugout.
"One hundred pitches in, five innings, going into the sixth, it was
a little tough and it takes a little toll on your body," Latos said.
"I was kind of running on fumes there, the last part, and I was
lucky to get a ground ball."
Latos got another inningending double play in the fifth after
Rougned Odor singled, stole second and advanced on a groundout.
"He's been around," catcher Dioner Navarro said. "He knows what it
takes."
Rangers manager Jeff Banister gave credit to Latos.
"We had some good atbats," Banister said. "Any time we got some
things going, he made some pitches."
Meanwhile, Navarro carried the offense in his first game as the
White Sox everyday catcher after Alex Avila went on the disabled
list Sunday for a strained right hamstring. Navarro homered and had
a sacrifice fly.
"My hitting, no worries. I know I can hit," Navarro said. "It was
just a matter of time. I'm going to have a little more playing time,
so go out there and do my job."
Melky Cabrera scored on a wild pitch to give Chicago the lead in the
fifth. Navarro's sacrifice fly added another run.
Navarro's first home run of the season tied it 11 in the third.
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Nomar Mazara hit his second home run, a solo shot, for a 10
Rangers' lead in the first. It was the first homer Latos has allowed
this season.
Brett Lawrie hit an RBI single for an insurance run in the eighth.
Texas starter Derek Holland (21) allowed three runs in 6 1/3
innings.
"We got a solid start," Banister said. "Sometimes you tip your hat
to the guy across the way. He's been hot, pitching well."
The Rangers put two on in the eighth before Nate Jones struck out
Mitch Moreland and got Elvis Andrus to fly out. David Robertson
struck out the side in the ninth for his seventh save in eight
chances.
The White Sox have won five of six. Texas (109) won four straight
before losing three consecutive to Chicago.
"It was tough to lose three in a row, but I felt like we got some
solid starting pitching in this series and played some good
defense," Banister said.
NOTES: The White Sox placed C Alex Avila (strained right hamstring)
on the 15day disabled list and recalled C Kevan Smith from TripleA
Charlotte before Sunday's game. Avila was injured running the bases
during Saturday's game against the Rangers. Smith, who was drafted
in the seventh round in 2011, has yet to play in the majors. He was
hitting .345 at TripleA. ... Rangers LHP Cole Hamels was scratched
from Monday's start against the Yankees due to a strained left
groin. Hamels expressed little concern about the injury and is
expected to miss just one start. ... LHP Cesar Ramos will start
Monday against New York. ... RHP Miguel Gonzalez will start for the
White Sox on Monday against Toronto. LHP Chris Sale will get an
extra day of rest and start Tuesday against the Blue Jays.
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