White Sox 4 - 3 Rangers
Final
  for this game

Ninth-inning HR by Rios allows ChiSox to trim Rangers

Apr 8, 2012 - 4:37 AM

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Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Alex Rios hit a leadoff homer against Joe Nathan in the top of the ninth inning Saturday, lifting the Chicago White Sox to a 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers.

Paul Konerko went 2-for-4 and knocked in the other three White Sox runs while Matt Thornton (1-0) pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning to pick up the win.

Chicago bounced back from a 3-2 loss in the opener of this three-game series on Friday.

Mike Napoli, Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre knocked in runs for the Rangers but Andrus made the final out in a 1-2-3 ninth that got Hector Santiago his first MLB save.

Both starting pitchers gave up three runs and struck out five batters in six innings. Jake Peavy allowed eight hits and a walk for Chicago while Derek Holland gave up three hits and three walks for Texas.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura said it was good to get his first win and praised the effort from his starting pitcher.

"Jake pitched great and had energy, everything we asked of him," said Ventura.

After getting a save the day before, Nathan (0-1) came in for Mike Adams to start the ninth Saturday and got ahead of Rios 1-2 before the White Sox right fielder stroked a high fastball over Josh Hamilton's glove at the center field wall for the 4-3 lead.

"I threw a pitch that was not exactly where I wanted it. I wanted it a little bit more out of the zone," said Nathan. "At the same time I have to give him credit. I didn't think he would be looking for that."

It was the only run scored in the last six innings. Earlier, the teams went back and forth.

Alejandro De Aza singled to leadoff the game, stole second base and scored on Konerko's base hit through the left side to give the White Sox a 1-0 lead.

The Rangers tied it in the second inning after Michael Young hit a one-out single, went to second on Nelson Cruz's walk and scored on Napoli's single.

Holland's error let De Aza on in the third, but the Rangers starter picked him off first base. Still, the White Sox took a 3-1 lead on Konerko's two-run double, which came after Holland walked Brent Lillibridge and Adam Dunn.

The Rangers followed with a two-run third to tie the game again, sparked by Ian Kinsler's leadoff triple. He scored on a single by Andrus, who went to third after a balk and Hamilton's single. Beltre's sac fly to right made it 3-3.

Game Notes

Holland, coming off a 16-5 season, was pitching for the first time since signing a five-year, $28.5 million contract...Texas out-hit the White Sox 10-5 but had two errors.






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