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Rangers slip by White Sox

May 26, 2011 - 1:56 AM Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - A strong effort from C.J. Wilson and an RBI each from Mitch Moreland and Ian Kinsler allowed the Texas Rangers to edge the Chicago White Sox, 2-1, in the rubber match of a three-game set.

Wilson (5-3) retired 15 consecutive batters at one point, allowing just one run, five hits and no walks while striking out five over 6 1/3 innings.

Josh Hamilton, who was 5-for-9 in his first two games since returning from the DL, went 0-for-3 to halt a 10-game hit streak. Still, the Rangers have won three of their last four.

The White Sox placed runners on the corners in the top of the ninth, but Neftali Feliz bore down to pick up his 10th save of the season.

Chicago wasted a fine performance from Gavin Floyd (5-4), who allowed just two runs -- one earned -- and three hits while striking out five in seven-plus innings pitched.

"I thought two pitchers was out there throwing the ball pretty good," said Rangers manager Ron Washington. "I thought Floyd was throwing the ball well. I mean we got two runs off him."

Paul Konerko was 1-for-3 and provided the White Sox with their lone RBI.

The first batter of the game, Juan Pierre singled up the middle, but Wilson quickly induced Alexei Ramirez into a double play and would not allow another runner to reach safely until the sixth.

The Rangers scored both of their runs in the third. After David Murphy reached on a fielding error, Yorvit Torrealba followed with a ground rule double to center. Moreland then worked an eight pitch at bat before bringing home Murphy with a sac fly to center. Kinsler gave Texas a 2-0 lead, lacing a ball between third and short to score Torrealba.

With one out in the sixth, Gordon Beckham singled to left-center, halting Wilson's impressive run. Again the White Sox' success was short lived, as the next batter, Brent Morel, grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Chicago finally got to Wilson in the seventh. Ramirez began the frame with a single to left. Carlos Quentin, who hit a career-high three homer runs Tuesday night, followed with a single to left. With runners on the corners, Konerko singled up the middle, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and chasing Wilson from the game. The threat came to a screeching halt, however, as it took reliever Mark Lowe just two pitches to induce Alex Rios into a 4-6-3 double play.

"I started off great," said Wilson. "You know, I threw a lot of strikes and I was ahead of the guys the first couple of innings. The last couple of innings I just started kind of flirting with the strike zone a little bit instead of pounding it, I guess.'

The White Sox placed runners on the corners in both the eight and the ninth, but were unable to capitalize.

With one out in the eight and runners on first and third, Darren Oliver spelled Lowe, striking out pinch hitter Adam Dunn and forcing Pierre into a groundout.

In the ninth, again with one out, Feliz walked Quentin and Konerko in succession, placing runners on first and second. Rios then hit a bloop shot over the head of Kinsler, who saw the ball carom off his glove before recovering to force out pinch runner Omar Vizquel at second. With runners again on the corners, A.J. Pierzynski failed to capitalize, popping out to center to end the game.

In all, Chicago was 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Game Notes

Prior to Wednesday's loss, the White Sox had won three consecutive road series...Texas had dropped five of its previous six rubber matches...Wilson is 3-0 lifetime against the White Sox...Despite the recent success, Texas has lost 23 of its last 40 games after a 9-1 start to the season matched the team's best 10-game record in club history.