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Kinsler, Mendoza spark Rangers over White Sox

Jul 12, 2008 - 4:46 AM By Jay Miller PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Rookie Luis Mendoza pitched six superb innings to lead the Texas Rangers to a 7-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox, 7-2, on Friday.

Ian Kinsler extending his hitting streak to 23 games with a single in a five-run third to help back Mendoza, who allowed one run and three hits while striking out eight.

"I thought (Mendoza) did a good job of mixing his pitches and keeping the ball off the fat part of that team's bat," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "Our offense took care of the rest and we played solid defense."

Mendoza (2-3), making only his third start since April 23, held Chicago hitless through the first three innings en route to posting career highs for innings pitched and strikeouts.

"I was more aggressive this time," said Mendoza, who was coming off a rough outing against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday in which he allowed eight runs and nine hits in 1 1/3 innings. "Getting first-pitch strikes and staying ahead all of the time. I feel great. I know it was a tough lineup and I just tried to stay ahead and use all of my pitches."

The Rangers spotted Mendoza an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on a solo home run by rookie first baseman Chris Davis. It was Davis' sixth home run of the season and his fifth in his seven starts at home.

"It feels good to know that I have a spot here," Davis said. "I think I've made the most of my time here."

White Sox starter Gavin Floyd (10-5) surrendered six runs, five hits and seven walks in 2 2/3 innings for only his second defeat in nine starts.

Floyd struggled with his control in the third, walking four as well as giving up an RBI double to Josh Hamilton and a two-run home run to David Murphy with no outs in the inning.

Later in the inning, Kinsler's infield single loaded the bases with two outs and set up Ramon Vazquez's run-scoring walk for a 5-0 advantage.

"I felt good coming in," Floyd said. "I ended up walking people instead of trying to make them hit the ball. I didn't have command on anything. I struggled with all my pitches. The game sped up on me instead of relaxing and slowing it down."

The White Sox got on the scoreboard in the fourth after back-to-back doubles by A.J Pierzynski and Carlos Quentin.

Chicago plated another run in the seventh off Rangers reliever Josh Rupe on a solo home run by Jim Thome, who extended his streak of reaching base safely in Arlington to 26 consecutive games.

D.J. Carrasco calmed the Rangers' bats through the middle innings, giving up only one run on a leadoff double by Michael Young in the sixth and an RBI single by Hamilton. Hamilton's two-RBI effort raised his major league-leading total to 93 and made him only the fifth player in major league history to amass as many before the All-Star break.

"When you come to this ballpark against this hitting club and not throw strikes, you'll be in the showers quick," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "The worst thing is to be cute and put people on base."