Kevin Youkilis hit a game-ending RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Chicago White Sox to a 5-4 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.
In the 10th inning, Alejandro De Aza, who fouled a ball off his right knee during the at-bat, led off the inning with a walk against Rangers reliever Mike Adams (1-3) then stole second. On the ninth pitch, Youkilis ended the game with an RBI single to score De Aza and prompting the crowd to shout "Youuuuk!" for the player acquired in a trade from the Red Sox on June 24.
Josh Hamilton homered for the Rangers, who had won their previous seven series. Addison Reed (2-1) pitched a scoreless 10th for the White Sox. After a 19-2 drubbing by the White Sox on Tuesday, the Rangers scored three runs in the first inning off White Sox starter Dylan Axelrod.
With two outs, Hamilton and Adrian Beltre hit back-to-back singles. Then Michael Young snapped an 0 for 13 skid with a two-run double and scored on Cruz's RBI single. Axelrod threw 25 pitches in 97-degree heat in the first inning.
The White Sox came right back and scored four runs to take the lead. With one out in the second, Alex Rios doubled to right off Rangers starter Scott Feldman.
Feldman then hit A.J. Pierzynski with a pitch. Dayan Viciedo followed with an RBI single, then Alexei Ramirez lined a single to right. Right fielder David Murphy's throw short-hopped to catcher Mike Napoli.
Although he was in front of the plate and in position to tag Pierzynski out, Napoli got barreled over by Pierzynski and lost the ball. Gordon Beckham added a two-run double. Hamilton led off the third with his 26th home run of the season to tie the game at four. Axelrod rebounded after a rough first inning to pitch 5 2-3 innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits.
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Feldman pitched six innings and allowed four runs on six hits. Before to the game, the Rangers announced that Yu Darvish will not make his final scheduled start of the first half as the Texas Rangers attempt to get him some extra rest in his first season in the majors.
Both the team and Darvish said Wednesday there is nothing physically wrong with the 25-year-old right-hander.
Darvish was scheduled to start Friday, but rookie Martin Perez will take his place.
