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Grimm tries to pitch Rangers to series win over Chicago

May 2, 2013 - 7:19 PM (Sports Network) - Virginia-born right-hander Justin Grimm aims for a third straight victory on Thursday night when the Texas Rangers host the Chicago White Sox in the rubber match of a three-game series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

A 24-year-old, Grimm debuted for 2013 with four innings of work in a no- decision against Seattle - a game Texas won, 4-3 - and has since strung together consecutive defeats of the Mariners and Minnesota for the second and third wins of his career.

He was 1-1 in five appearances last season for the Rangers, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2010 draft.

In the two April victories, Grimm allowed 11 hits and one earned run in 13 innings with one walk and 13 strikeouts.

He gave up three runs in three innings of a single relief outing against the White Sox last season.

For Chicago, it was supposed to be veteran Jake Peavy on the hill, but he was scratched with back spasms. Instead it will be lefty Hector Santiago, who was inserted into the rotation earlier in the week to take the place of an ailing Gavin Floyd.

Santiago has appeared in seven games out of the bullpen this season for the White Sox and is 0-1 with a 2.51 ERA.

On Wednesday, Conor Gillaspie broke a tie game with a solo homer in the seventh inning and the White Sox took the middle game of the series, 5-2, to snap a three-game skid.

Alejandro De Aza tacked on a two-run homer after Gillaspie's blast to back a strong start from Chris Sale (3-2), who remained perfect against the AL West by scattering six hits and two runs over seven innings of work.

Rangers rookie Nick Tepesch (2-2) took the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 frames. Jeff Baker hit a solo homer and Ian Kinsler went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Texas' third loss in four games.

The White Sox won six of nine meetings with Texas last season.