texas

Rangers Shut Down by Latos, Swept by White Sox

It had been nearly 10 months since the Texas Rangers were swept, and manager Jeff Banister isn't sounding the alarm after dropping three straight to the Chicago White Sox.

Mat Latos and three relievers limited Texas to eight hits in a 4-1 White Sox victory Sunday. Chicago outscored the Rangers 13-4 in the series, giving Texas its first sweep since last July, when the Los Angeles Angels won three straight in Arlington, Texas.

"I like where the guys are at, where they're competing in the (batter's) box," Banister said. "It's tough to lose three in a row, but I felt we got some solid starting pitching in this series and played some good defense along the way. It was three days that we learned something about (ourselves). Now we'll move on to the next series."

Latos, Carlos Rodon and Jose Quintana combined with the bullpen to stymie Texas' lineup. In 24 at-bats, Adrian Beltre and Prince Fielder combined for four singles, one double and zero RBIs from the third and fourth spots in the order.

"We faced a really good pitching staff, but there are no excuses," Beltre said. "Our offense should be better.

"We played some decent games here, but we're not happy with the results."

Texas scored its only run on Nomar Mazara's home run in the first inning, the rookie's first since his major league debut on April 10. The blast cleared the visitor's bullpen and landed about five rows into the bleachers.

The Rangers posed their last threat in the sixth, when singles by Ian Desmond and Elvis Andrus put runners on the corners with two outs. But the 6-foot-6 Latos nabbed Ryan Rua's hard grounder up the middle and started a double play.

"I was running on fumes there at the end," Latos said. "I was lucky to get a ground ball."

Latos (4-0) — who signed a $3 million, one-year deal with Chicago in February — was charged with one run and seven hits in six innings.

"Sometimes you tip your hat to the guy across the way, too," Banister said. "Latos has been hot. He has been pitching well."

Rangers starter Derek Holland (2-1) allowed three runs and five hits over 6 1/3 innings. His career 6.86 ERA versus the White Sox is the highest of any American League opponent.

Dioner Navarro homered and drove in two runs as Chicago won for the fifth time in six games. Brett Lawrie added two hits and an RBI.

Trainer's Room
White Sox: C Alex Avila was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring injury. To take his place on the roster, C Kevan Smith was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte. Avila, who is batting .214 in 10 games this season, was injured running the bases in the sixth inning on Saturday.

Up Next
Rangers: With Hamels injured, LHP Cesar Ramos (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will be recalled from Triple-A Round Rock to start the opener of a three-game series against the Yankees on Monday. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (0-2, 6.11 ERA) goes for New York.

White Sox: RHP Miguel Gonzalez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will be recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to start the opener of a three-game set in Toronto on Monday. RHP Marcus Stroman (3-0, 4.13 ERA) will take the mound for the Blue Jays.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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