Rua blast pushes Rangers over White Sox
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Ryan Rua launched a three-run blast to center field in the bottom of the eighth to give the Texas Rangers an improbable 13-11 win over the Chicago White Sox.
The Rangers scored seven runs in eighth and sent 10 batters to the plate, including Ian Desmond who hit a two-run triple prior to Rua's homer.
The White Sox led 10-5 after four innings when they scored nine runs over two innings following an extended rain delay.
Desmond also homered in the seventh inning as the Rangers collected 17 hits to Chicago's 13 in the four hour, 40 minute game.
Rua homered off reliever Matt Albers, one of four White Sox pitchers in the game. Just before pitching to Rua, Albers walked designated hitter Prince Fielder on four pitches.
Alex Claudio earned the win with 4 1/3 innings in relief for Texas. Shawn Tolleson earned his 11th save.
Avisail Garcia's bases-clearing double in the fourth gave the White Sox a 10-5 lead during a five-run inning.
Rangers reliever Anthony Ranaudo issued five walks in the inning, the last three loading the bases for Garcia who lofted a double to left off Alex Claudio. Garcia also extended his hitting streak to 11 games with the double.
One inning earlier, the White Sox took a 5-2 lead with a four-run inning. Todd Frazier had a two-run single while Melky Cabrera and Brett Lawrie hit back-to-back RBI doubles to fuel the rally.
The Rangers' Bryan Holaday tied it 5-5 in the bottom of the third with a three-run homer to left field.
The run explosion in the third and fourth innings came after a one hour, 18 minute delay for a thunderstorm that blew through Globe Life Park.
Just before the delay, Rangers starter Derek Holland threw a 1-2-3 inning in the second with two strikeouts. When play resumed, he gave up five hits and a walk and exited after 2 1/3 frames.
NOTES: Rangers DH Prince Fielder batted fifth for the first time since Sept. 17, 2006, when he was with Milwaukee. The struggling Fielder, who came into the game batting .192 with a .280 slugging percentage, had either third or fourth this season. ... Rangers OF Delino DeShields was back at the leadoff spot for the first since April 27. Rougned Odor dropped to the No. 2 spot. ... Rangers RHP A.J. Griffin had a precautionary MRI of his stiff shoulder on Tuesday, but team physician had not analyzed the results by game time. ... Rangers OF Shin-Soo Choo was scheduled to play in an extended spring training game Tuesday in Arizona. ... Rangers OF Josh Hamilton continues to rehab his left knee but the Rangers announced there is no timetable for his return. ... White Sox GM Rick Hahn said RHP Miguel Gonzalez, Monday's spot starter, will get a chance to get several starts in a row as the fifth starter, beginning Sunday at the Yankees. ... The White Sox love the late innings. In addition to having the best bullpen ERA in the majors (1.98), the White Sox have scored 66 of their 139 runs (47.5 percent) in the seventh inning or later. ... The White Sox came into the game looking for their fifth win in a row and their third winning streak of at least five games this season.