Hanser Alberto has played in six big-league games in his career, and he's recorded a hit in each one of them, a streak that continued on Thursday night with a single in the Rangers' 2-1 walkoff win over the White Sox in 11 innings.
But it was not a hit that defined Alberto's night on Thursday, helping the Rangers win their fifth straight series and their second consecutive home series.
In the bottom of the 11th inning after Leonys Martin reached base, Alberto was called upon to lay down a sacrifice bunt to put the speedy Martin in scoring position with the top of the order coming up to the plate. On the first offering, Alberto couldn't get the job done. On the second one, the White Sox pitched out to try to catch Martin running, and Alberto did something a bit unorthodox. He reached out out of the zone to make contact and get a bunt down in foul territory to advance Martin to second base with one out.
After Delino DeShields was intentionally walked to set up a double play, Shin-Soo Choo singled to score Martin from second and give the Rangers another series victory.
It won't be remembered much today, but Alberto's reach to get that ball down continued a great start from the defensive-minded infielder to his big-league career.
