LDN - Sports

Gonzalez helps White Sox beat Rangers

[August 21, 2017] ARLINGTON, Texas -- Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez has been one of the few pitchers the Chicago White Sox have been able to rely on all season.

That didn't change Sunday as Gonzalez (7-10) pitched six shutout innings in guiding the White Sox to a 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Gonzalez allowed just four singles in his six innings and twice worked out of bases-loaded situations. He has now allowed just two earned runs in his last 20 innings, and Sunday's start was his first scoreless outing of the season.

Gonzalez was tasked with slowing a Texas offense that had scored at least nine runs in four of its last five games and was coming off a Saturday game in which the Rangers scored 17 runs and had 20 hits.

He did the job by registering his third straight quality start.

He worked around four walks by striking out six and making big pitches in key situations.

"I just didn't have that feel in the second and third inning," said Gonzalez. "I lost my feel. I was just pushing the ball instead of going through my catcher. Just one of those days where you had to think through it and make adjustments while the game went on. You've got to be mentally strong and try to minimize damage and make them hit the ball the sooner the better. The fourth, fifth and sixth inning were a lot better that way. I was able to stay ahead and make pitches."

The Rangers had the bases loaded with one out in both the second and third innings but came away with nothing. Gonzalez got pop outs from Drew Robinson and Brett Nicholas to end that second-inning threat, and got Nomar Mazara and Joey Gallo on flyballs to finish off the third.

"I thought he was running the ball, cutting the ball, working both sides of the plate, staying on the fringes," Chicago manager Rick Renteria said. "He never really left anything to the middle that allowed them to do a whole lot. There were quite of few jam shots. Even the fly balls I thought he had enough movement on them that kept them from squaring them up."

Texas left 10 runners on base in the game and was 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

"Their guy (Gonzalez) made good pitches when he had to," said Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus, who went 1-for-4. "We had a couple of RBI situations. But when somebody makes a good pitch, you've got to tip your cap. Everybody did their best today but it didn't happen. You've got to turn the page."

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White Sox catcher Omar Narvaez (38) cools off in the dugout between innings against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

The White Sox gave Gonzalez the run support he needed with three runs in the fourth off A.J. Griffin (6-4). After a walk and a single opened the inning, catcher Omar Narvaez singled home Nicky Delmonico with the game's first run. Two batters later Tyler Saladino lined a two-run double into the left-field corner.

Gonzalez retired the final nine batters he faced before turning the game over to the bullpen. Right-hander Danny Farquhar pitched a scoreless seventh, Gregory Infante a perfect eighth.

Juan Minaya lost the shutout by allowing a two-out, two-run homer to Rougned Odor in the ninth inning. But he got Elvis Andrus to fly out to center for his second career save.

Griffin lasted just five innings after getting touched for six hits and three runs. He struck out three and walked three.

"I just wasn't able to get ahead," said Griffin, who retired nine of the first 12 batters he faced before running into trouble. "They got a couple of base hits with guys on and scored a couple of runs. Other than that, I thought it was all right. We did a good job of keeping it right there with the bullpen coming in. At the plate we kept believing, and we were real close today in the ninth."

Avisail Garcia had three hits for the White Sox, who finished with nine.

Mike Napoli had two of the six Texas hits as the Rangers missed out on a chance to move above the .500 mark for the first time since June 27.

NOTES: Chicago 2B Yoan Moncada missed his second straight game because of shin splints. ... The White Sox will recall RHP Carson Fulmer from Triple-A Charlotte to start Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader against Minnesota. ... Both Texas 3B Joey Gallo and RHP Matt Bush exited the game in the eighth inning after they crashed into each other trying to catch a popup. Bush made the catch. Both players are now in the concussion protocol.

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