Rangers at White Sox
After essentially gifting the offensively challenged Chicago White Sox a win in the series opener with a number of late mistakes, the Texas Rangers made sure to score early and often enough one day later to prevent a similar outcome. Coming off their most explosive offensive showing of the season, the Rangers try to even their road record at 12-12 on Saturday when they play the third of four games in Chicago against the White Sox.
Texas took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday before permitting four unearned runs courtesy of a passed ball, a throwing error and a bases-loaded walk in a loss to the team with the worst record in the majors. The Rangers left nothing to chance in Friday's 12-5 rout, however, scoring nine runs over the first three innings and adding three more late to top their previous high-water offensive mark in an 11-5 victory against Boston on May 3. Shin-Soo Choo delivered the knockout blow during Texas' five-run third with a grand slam, while Jurickson Profar and Joey Gallo combined for five hits and drove in three runs apiece. Chicago (11-30) has dropped 14 of its last 17 and is a majors-worst 4-16 at home, giving up an average of 5.9 runs at Guaranteed Rate Field.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Ariel Jurado (NR) vs. White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (2-4, 6.91 ERA)
With Cole Hamels unable to shake off neck stiffness despite having his regularly scheduled start pushed back two days, Jurado is set to make his big-league debut Saturday. The 22-year-old Panamanian has exhibited a strong command of the strike zone with Double-A Frisco this season, issuing only eight walks while going 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in six starts. Jurado has pitched to contact for the majority of his minor-league career, however, averaging only 7.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
Giolito exhibited very little command but was able to limit the damage in a win versus the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, overcoming a season high-tying seven walks to allow three runs across 5 2/3 innings. The No. 16 overall pick of the 2012 draft has permitted only four home runs through eight turns, but he leads the American League in walks (32) despite being tied for 49th in innings pitched (41 2/3). Giolito is 0-2 with a 13.89 ERA in three home starts as he faces Texas for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Choo's grand slam was the fourth of his career, his first homer in 25 games and the first grand slam on an 0-2 count by a Ranger since Nelson Cruz on August 16, 2006.
2. Chicago OF Nicky Delmonico is expected to miss four to six weeks after suffering a broken bone in his right middle finger after he was hit by a pitch in the second inning Friday.
3. Texas signed INF Cliff Pennington to a minor-league contract Friday and assigned him to Triple-A Round Rock.