White Sox Trainers Train to Play Texas Rangers

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1 Headlines of June 4, 2015 Sale fans 13 Rangers in White Sox victory T.R. Sullivan and Scott Merkin, MLB.com Sale an elite performer at 10-K benchmark Scott Merkin, MLB.com White Sox see light at end of difficult road trip Scott Merkin, MLB.com Good ABs, seeing more pitches Eaton's goals Scott Merkin, MLB.com Rodon tries help White Sox get a series win against Rangers Scott Merkin, MLB.com Abreu returns to White Sox lineup at DH Scott Merkin, MLB.com Forget bruise and bruising, Jose Abreu and Chris Sale huge in 9-2 victory Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune Chris Sale strikes out 13 in White Sox victory Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun Times Jose Abreu homers in return to White Sox lineup Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun Times GM Rick Hahn discusses White Sox' performance, contingency plans and more Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun Times Jose Abreu homers as Chris Sale K's season-high 13 in win over Rangers Associated Press, ESPN.com Wednesday's power rankings David Schoenfield, ESPN.com Chris Sale's dominant streak continues versus Texas Rangers Randy Jennings, ESPN.com Rapid Reaction: White Sox 9, Rangers 2 Randy Jennings, ESPN.com White Sox see Chris Sale sliding back into ace form JJ Stankevitz, CSN Cabrera, White Sox not hitting panic button on season-long slump JJ Stankevitz, CSN Jose Abreu homers in return to White Sox lineup JJ Stankevitz, CSN White Sox-Rangers Preview Associated Press, FoxSports.com Sale fans 13 Rangers in White Sox victory By T.R. Sullivan and Scott Merkin / MLB.com 12:14 AM ET ARLINGTON -- Jose Abreu's ninth home run of the season capped the White Sox six-run rally in the second inning and starter Chris Sale dominated the Rangers for seven innings in a 9-2 victory on Wednesday night at Globe Life Park. The victory snapped the Rangers' four-game winning streak and left the White Sox 5-5 on their 11-game road trip. Sale allowed three hits, walked two and struck out a season-high 13. Sale is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in his last six starts. In 44 innings, he has allowed 26 hits and struck out 59. "Nice offense tonight. It was good to have a big inning like that," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Guys swung the bat. Especially in this ballpark, it's an offensive ballpark, and for Chris to do what he did, it was great. Once you get those runs, he was just trying to minimize things. He was fantastic." Rangers starter Nick Martinez had his shortest outing of the season, allowing seven runs in 3 1/3 innings. That brought to an end Martinez's streak of allowing three runs or fewer in 16 straight starts, the longest in club history. The Rangers' runs came on Mitch Moreland's bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning and Joey Gallo's leadoff homer, his second in two big league games, in the ninth. Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton to miss 4 weeks with strained left hamstring MOMENTS THAT MATTERED He's back: Abreu missed three games because of swelling in his right index finger, but he returned with authority. Abreu launched a 410-foot, two-run homer during a six-run second and then singled home another run in the fourth. Abreu is 15-for-39 with 24 RBIs when hitting with runners in scoring position this season.

2 "The results were good, but the most important thing was we won today," said Abreu, through interpreter and White Sox Spanish language broadcaster Billy Russo. "It was a very important victory for us." Gallo meets Sale: Gallo had to go up against Sale in his second Major League game and didn't fare well in the lefty vs. lefty matchup. Sale struck out Gallo three straight times. But Gallo became the first Ranger to homer in his first two Major League games when he went deep off Zach Duke in the ninth. "You don't want to leave anything over the plate against him. He can swing it," said Sale of Gallo. "He swings with some purpose behind it. Just follow [Flowers], whatever he's got, that's what I'm throwing." "His at-bats got progressively better as the night went on," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said of his rookie third baseman. Sale-ing along: For the first time in his illustrious career as a starter, Sale has struck out 10 or more in three straight games. He fanned 13 on Wednesday and struck out everyone at least once but Carlos Corporan. Depleted lineup can't strike first: The Rangers' lineup was missing Adrian Beltre, Prince Fielder and Josh Hamilton. That left Elvis Andrus in the No. 3 spot for the first time in his career and Moreland in the cleanup spot for the second straight night. He had never hit there before Tuesday. The Rangers started the first inning with a single by Delino DeShields and a walk to Shin-Soo Choo. But Andrus struck out and Moreland grounded into a double play. QUOTABLE "Those games are easier to put behind. The gut-wrenching ones might linger a little bit, but these guys are pros, and they came in and did what they had to do." -- Ventura, on bouncing back from a 15-2 loss on Tuesday TEMPERS, REPLAY MARK RANGERS' THIRD The Rangers, trailing 6-0, did not score in the bottom of the third, but the inning turned interesting after a one-out double by DeShields. Choo then walked on a full-count pitch that was up and in, just missing hitting him. Choo yelled out at Sale and was quickly escorted to first base by home-plate umpire Mike Estabrook. Andrus, on a 2-2 pitch, then smacked a line drive down the left field line that just missed the chalk and was called foul by third-base umpire Ed Hickox. The Rangers asked for a review, but the call was confirmed by replay. The Rangers have been unsuccessful on their last 10 challenges. Andrus then lined out, as did Moreland. WHAT'S NEXT White Sox: Rookie left-hander Carlos Rodon makes his fifth start and eighth appearance when he pitches against the Rangers at 7:05 p.m. CT on Thursday. Rodon earned his only big league win on May 9. He has a 3.86 ERA without a decision in his last three starts. Rangers: Right-hander Yovani Gallardo pitches against the White Sox in Thursday night's series finale. This will be Gallardo's first career start against the White Sox. He is 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA in his last four starts. Sale an elite performer at 10-K benchmark Left-hander whiffs season-high 13, has reached double-digits in 4 of 5 starts By Scott Merkin / 1:03 AM ET ARLINGTON -- Chris Sale did not have a flawless performance Tuesday during the White Sox 9-2 victory over the Rangers at Globe Life Park, contrary to what his seven scoreless innings and 13 strikeouts would indicate. In the third inning, during a matchup with Shin-Soo Choo, Sale's cleats caught in mid-delivery. What resulted was somewhere between an unintentional cartwheel and downright flop off the mound as he threw the baseball, enhanced by Sale's 6-foot-6, 180-pound frame.

3 "I'm pretty good at looking pretty un-athletic sometimes," said a smiling Sale, who threw 80 of his 112 pitches for strikes. Rangers hitters understand how Sale feels, as there were plenty of times when the White Sox ace made them look a little foolish, for lack of a better word. Take Sale's three encounters with Joey Gallo as a perfect example. Gallo became the first Rangers player to homer in each of his first two Major League games when he went deep off of Zach Duke in the ninth. Prior to that at-bat, he struck out three times against Sale. There were 12 pitches thrown from Sale to Gallo, featuring 10 sliders and two changeups. Sale actually threw 20 of his 32 sliders for strikes, according to brooksbaseball.netl, officially bringing that pitch back to an already devastating arsenal. "Yeah, for sure," said Sale in regard to the re-incorporation of his slider. "I worked on it in bullpens, flat ground and stuff like that. It wasn't just really that good of a pitch early on, so just try to mix it in as much as I can and still not trying to overthrow it." "Even with as many lefties as they have, they still battle and get on base," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura of Sale and his slider usage against Texas. "It's not an easy lineup to go through, and I thought when he had to, he used what he needed to get out of it." Factoring in Wednesday's effort, Sale has given up six earned runs over his last 38 2/3 innings. He has yielded 19 hits, walked six and struck out 53 in that stretch. His franchise-record single-game showing with double-digit strikeouts reached 22, and he has posted 10 or more strikeouts in four of his last five starts and three straight, marking the first time he has gone three straight. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, Sale became the fourth pitcher in White Sox history with 10 or more strikeouts in three straight starts, joining Ed Walsh (Aug. 4-11, 1910), Floyd Bannister (May 7-16, 1985) and Edwin Jackson (Aug , 2010). And for good measure, Sale even caught a Jake Smolinski popup back to the mound with sort of a fair catch maneuver to end the seventh. Sale tucked that ball into his back pocket for a little souvenir from the night. "Gotta do my part when I can," said Sale of the catch. "I don't look too athletic out there very often, so when I get a play, I'm keeping it." White Sox see light at end of difficult road trip Abreu: 'We are getting better every day' By Scott Merkin / 1:13 AM ET ARLINGTON -- The words from Jose Abreu following a 9-2 victory for the White Sox on Wednesday night over the Rangers might take some of the most ardent White Sox fans by surprise. "I think that we have proved during this road trip that we have a very good team," said Abreu, through interpreter and White Sox Spanish language broadcaster Billy Russo, after Abreu homered and drove in three. It's hard to find a time when a 5-5 run indicates a very good team. But there's little doubt that the White Sox (24-27) could have been buried on this four-city, 11-game road trip, which included a rescheduled doubleheader in Baltimore last Thursday in place of a scheduled off-day. Instead, the White Sox have remained in shouting distance of playoff contention and answered many challenges along the way. In Abreu's estimation, the team has come together more as a unit during this extended journey. "We have to battle and fight," Abreu said. "We are not in the best shape that we can get, or we haven't shown our best game yet. But we are in a very good position and we are getting better every day."

4 Texas inflicted some damage upon the White Sox in a 15-2 victory Tuesday night, but the White Sox didn't let that bad feeling linger. They have a chance to win a series on Thursday, after scoring six times in the second Wednesday and knocking out 12 hits behind Chris Sale's dominance. And whether it's a 6-5 road trip or 5-6, the White Sox have made it through to fight on into the summer with something important well within reach. "We're going to go 6-5," said a smiling manager Robin Ventura. "It's a tough road trip. We knew with that doubleheader mixed in there that should have been an off-day, you just start adding games, and where we were and traveling around and the teams you're playing, it can be a tough trip and you can get buried. We've still got some life to us." Good ABs, seeing more pitches Eaton's goals Leadoff hitter confident consistency will take hold By Scott Merkin / June 3rd, 2015 ARLINGTON -- At one point during Tuesday night's series opener with the Rangers, White Sox leadoff man Adam Eaton happened to glance at the scoreboard and saw the top three batters in his team's lineup hitting in the.230 to.240 range. "You are not going to be doing too well offensively when your top three hitters are hitting that," Eaton said. "So, we've got to pick it up and get things going. I think we will." Eaton picked up his offense during the month of May. After hitting.192 without an RBI in April, he batted.262 with a.325 on-base percentage, including two homers, five doubles and two triples. He carried that extra-base punch into June with a two-run homer off Colby Lewis that stood up as the only White Sox offense during a 15-2 shellacking on Tuesday night. That long ball didn't illustrate the Eaton improvement as much as the homer serving as the culmination of a nine-pitch atbat. Eaton entered Wednesday's contest seeing 3.86 pitches per at-bat, with Adam LaRoche ranking 20th overall in baseball at 4.12 pitches per at-bat to provide some sort of barometer as to where Eaton currently falls. "I'm still searching for some more consistent at-bats," said Eaton, who entered Wednesday hitting.233 with eight RBIs. "But at-bats like yesterday, where I can see six, seven, eight, nine pitches in an at-bat, I think when I'm going well, that's more consistent. It hasn't been that consistent." "His balance is a little bit better," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura of Eaton. "Power-wise, I don't think that's necessarily part of the game that comes with it. Balance-wise and being able to put it in play and utilize his speed more is what you expect out of him. Early on, he was not in balance, striking out a little bit more and not making contact and putting it in play. This is a little bit better." The White Sox offense surprisingly sits last in the American League in home runs and slugging percentage, and only leads the Phillies in both categories overall. But much like Eaton believes his game will continue to get better with 400-some atbats remaining, he feels the same way about the team as a whole. "I have all the confidence in the world in these guys and I have since Spring Training, and I'll continue to say that," Eaton said. "It's a long season. We are into the thick of it now. We are in June. But I think there's better baseball ahead of us." Rodon tries help White Sox get a series win against Rangers By Scott Merkin / June 3rd, 2015 Carlos Rodon is coming off what probably stands as his best start as a Major Leaguer, when the rookie southpaw fanned four and didn't issue a walk over 6 1/3 innings against Houston on Friday. The Rangers' Yovani Gallardo is 3-1 with a 3.38 over his last four starts.

5 So the duo should make for an interesting matchup in Thursday night's series finale at Globe Life Park, with the winner taking the three-game series. The Rangers rolled to a 15-2 victory on Tuesday, while the White Sox cruised behind Chris Sale on Wednesday. Gallardo is 3-2 with a 3.15 ERA in five starts at home, with the Rangers scoring 3.45 runs per nine innings when he's on the mound. That ranks as the 10th-lowest run support in the American League. Rodon has made seven appearances in his Major League career, with four coming as a starter. Three of his four starts have been quality for the team's top-ranked prospect per MLB.com. Things to know Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton will miss the next four weeks because of a strained left hamstring. Gordon Beckham has started nine of the last 10 games for the White Sox, hitting.333 during that span. But White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Wednesday that Beckham has not officially moved into the starting role at third base despite this increased playing time. "Right now, the way Conor [Gillaspie] is swinging it, that's more the reason doing this," Ventura said. "Just the way he's swinging. It's not a plan that he's taking that over and that's the way we are going to go. "[Defense] does factor a little bit. But Gordon has been swinging it good. You are going with the combination of Gordon is a good third baseman and he's swinging it better." Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos should be ready to play after not starting Wednesday night because of a bruised right hand The White Sox have been outscored, 45-14, in the first inning this season. They have allowed the most first-inning runs in baseball and have scored the fewest. They have allowed a first-inning run in 11 of their last 23 games, with 25 in total during that time. Abreu returns to White Sox lineup at DH Prospects May, Anderson hurt in outfield collision By Scott Merkin / 2:28 AM ET ARLINGTON -- Jose Abreu returned to the White Sox starting lineup Wednesday against the Rangers after missing the previous three games because of a swollen right index finger. Abreu started at designated hitter and figures to stay there for the short term, as the injury is on his throwing hand, with Adam LaRoche moving to first base. "If something happens, we wouldn't have to do the thing we did the other day where we had [Tyler Flowers] going to first base," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Designated hitter is the safest spot, and having LaRoche over at first. If something happens, we can adjust." Abreu hit a two-run homer, his ninth of the season, during a six-run second inning and then tallied an RBI single in the seventh as the White Sox eased to a 9-2 victory Wednesday night. Jacob May was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list and Tim Anderson will miss a couple of days with bruised ribs after two of the White Sox top prospects collided going for a fly ball in short center during Double-A Birmingham's contest with Biloxi on Tuesday. Anderson sits as the team's No. 2 prospect, according to MLB.com, with a.316 average and 19 stolen bases this season. May, ranked No. 14, has a.311 average with 25 stolen bases. Jesse Crain and Nate Jones both worked in a simulated game Tuesday in Arizona and are scheduled to throw in another one Friday. A Minor League rehab assignment would be the next sign that the relievers are close to returning to the big leagues

6 Matt Albers had the pins removed from the pinkie finger on his right hand and currently is rehabbing the injury. Albers, who posted a 1.59 ERA over four games for the White Sox this season, sustained the original injury to his hand during the team's bench-clearing brawl with the Royals on April 23. The injury then required a surgical correction, leaving the right-handed reliever out of action for a more extended period. Forget bruise and bruising, Jose Abreu and Chris Sale huge in 9-2 victory Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune June 3, 2015 ARLINGTON, Texas Jose Abreu's bruised right index finger healed enough that he could launch a two-run homer to the center-field grass at Globe Life Park on Wednesday night. The White Sox recovered enough from a bruising Tuesday night to give left-hander Chris Sale some early padding. After being outscored by 13 runs in the series opener, the Sox turned the tables Wednesday, scoring six times in the second inning against Rangers right-hander Nick Martinez on the way to a 9-2 victory. "Our lineup is a lot different when (Abreu's) in there, so it was nice," manager Robin Ventura said. "He felt strongly that he was fine today. It's sometimes not as easy just to say, 'OK,' and send him back out there. But you have to trust the player sometimes." Abreu said he was not quite 100 percent while playing designated hitter after missing three straight games with the sore finger. His homer capped an inning in which Carlos Sanchez and Adam Eaton each drove in two runs. Abreu added an RBI single in the fourth, and Tyler Flowers had a two-run homer in the seventh. The outburst was much needed after the Sox turned in one of their worst showings of the season behind right-hander Jeff Samardzija on Tuesday. "That's what professionals do," Sale said. "These guys could get down on themselves. They could beat each other up. We came ready to play today, and it's fun to watch now, Abreu coming back in the lineup and doing what he does, 'Flow' having some good at-bats." Sale pitched seven scoreless innings with three hits, two walks and a season-high 13 strikeouts. Along with the early run support, a Rangers Light lineup that didn't include Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton or Prince Fielder helped. However, it did include Joey Gallo, the rookie who crushed a homer and had four RBIs against Samardzija in his majorleague debut. Sale struck him out three times before Gallo hit a ninth-inning homer off reliever Zach Duke. Sale has a 1.40 ERA with six walks and 53 strikeouts over his last five starts. "You get in grooves and try to ride it," Sale said. First-inning issues: Samardzija allowed four first-inning runs Tuesday against the Rangers and has allowed 16 overall this season. Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said Wednesday it is not because Samardzija is not properly prepared, saying they try to combat the problems by having him go out earlier to get ready. He said in the past they have had pitchers throw an inning before the game. "He's out there way, way earlier than everybody else," Cooper said. "He's plenty oiled up, plenty juiced up, it just ain't happening right now in the first. If we can lick that, with him and everybody, it's the old saying, 'If you can't get to a good pitcher early, you might not get him.' Because he always seems to get stronger through the game."

7 Samardzija is searching for consistency after allowing nine earned runs Tuesday to continue an up-and-down start. But Cooper's opinion of him hasn't been dampened. "He's competitive," Cooper said. "I love his stuff. I love his movement. He's not clicking on all cylinders yet, but we've seen signs of that. The last two games prior to this were very, very good." Swirsky stint continues: Chuck Swirsky said he expects to continue to fill in for Sox broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson this weekend when the Sox return to U.S. Cellular Field for a series with the Tigers. Swirsky said he will be paired with Steve Stone on Friday and Sunday, while Saturday's game is a Fox broadcast. He hopes Harrelson will be back Monday. Swirsky, the Bulls radio play-by-play announcer, has been on the Sox's entire 11-game trip while Harrelson is out for a minor surgical procedure performed last Thursday. Swirsky said he has learned a lot and praised Stone and the Sox coaching staff and players for helping him as he substituted. "My boundaries have definitely been stretched and grown as a professional broadcaster, for the better," Swirsky said. " For the last two weeks, this has been an education, and I'm working with a guy, who if they handed out degrees, Steve Stone would have a doctorate." Extra innings: Sox reliever Matt Albers had the pins removed from his broken right pinkie finger. He must do rehabilitation on the finger before he can begin throwing. Sox minor leaguers Tim Anderson and Jacob May collided in the outfield during a Double-A Birmingham game Wednesday. Anderson is out with bruised ribs and May was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list. Wednesday's recap: White Sox 9, Rangers 2 Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune June 3, 2015 The summary Jose Abreu and Tyler Flowers each hit two-run homers to help the White Sox to a 9-2 victory over the Rangers on Wednesday night at Globe Life Park. The offensive outburst came on the heels of a 15-2 loss in the series opener. At the plate In his return from a right index finger bruise, Abreu also had an RBI single. Carlos Sanchez and Adam Eaton each had two RBIs in a six-run second inning against Nick Martinez. On the mound Chris Sale has struck out 10 or more batters in his last three games, a first in his career. He struck out 13 Wednesday. In the field Gordon Beckham started his ninth game in the last 10, playing at third base Wednesday instead of Conor Gillaspie because he has been a hot streak at the plate, Sox manager Robin Ventura said. Key number 53 Sale strikeouts over his last five starts, with six walks. The quote "I feel much better than a couple of days ago, probably not 100 percent, but I feel good enough to play. I want to thank again all the people who have supported me and helped me to get to this point right now after what I passed through last weekend." Abreu through a team interpreter The quote II

8 "I think he's getting that feeling back. Maybe there is something to not having as much spring training as he normally would have had because of his (fractured foot). Maybe it's all catching up, and the rhythm and everything is coming back." Sox manager Robin Ventura on Sale Up next At Rangers, 7:05 p.m. Thursday, CSN. Chris Sale strikes out 13 in White Sox victory Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun Times June 3, 2015 ARLINGTON, Texas Chris Sale was brilliant again and Jose Abreu returned from a three-game absence Wednesday night to deliver a home run and three RBI as the White Sox rolled to an 9-2 victory over the Texas Rangers. Sale struck out a season-high 13 while allowing three hits and two hits in seven innings, his third consecutive game with double-digit strikeouts and fourth in his last five. Sale struck out 12 Baltimore Orioles in his previous start last Thursday at Camden Yards, that one following a 10-strikeout effort against the Minnesota Twins on May 23 at U.S. Cellular Field. Any time you go out there and you feel like you get in a rhythm, that s all pitching really is is finding a groove, getting in a rhythm, just trying to I wouldn t say be comfortable but find the groove and ride it as long as you can, Sale said. They don t last forever. Sale s slider has become increasingly effective, and it shows in his strikeout rates. He became the fourth Sox pitcher with 10-plus strikeouts in three straight starts, joining Ed Walsh (1910), Floyd Bannister (1985) and Edwin Jackson (2010). Yeah, for sure, he said. I worked on it in bullpens, flat ground and stuff like that. It wasn t just really that good of a pitch early on, so just try to mix it in as much as I can and still not trying to overthrow it. The Sox (24-27), who got clobbered 15-2 in the first game of this series, are 5-5 on their 11-game road trip through Toronto (1-2), Baltimore (1-1), Houston (2-1) and Arlington (1-1) that concludes Thursday night. Rookie left-hander Carlos Rodon (1-0, 3.45 ERA) will oppose Rangers right-hander Yovani Gallardo (5-6, 3.88). We knew with that doubleheader mixed in [in Baltimore] when there that should have been an off day, you just start adding games, and where we were and traveling around and the teams you re playing, it can be a tough trip and you can get buried, manager Robin Ventura said. We ve still got some life to us. Abreu belted a 410-foot, two-run homer against Rangers right-hander Nick Martinez to cap the scoring in a six-run second inning for the Sox, who also got a two-run single from Carlos Sanchez and two-run double by Adam Eaton. Abreu added an RBI single in the fourth to go with the homer, his ninth of the season, and Tyler Flowers belted a two-run homer in the seventh, his third. Flowers was 3-for-5, raising his average to.216. Sale improved to 5-2 and lowered his ERA to He threw 112 pitches, his last one popped up by Jake Smolinski to Sale himself for the third out of the seventh inning. Sale had struck out Adam Rosales, who came into the game 6-for-11 in his career against Sale, and Joey Gallo, who made a splashy major league debut the night before with a home run and three hits, for the first two outs of the inning. After catching the pop-up, Sale tucked the ball in his back pocket as he walked off the field. Oh, for sure. I don t look too athletic out there very often so when I get a play, I m keeping it, said Sale, who earlier in the game got his right shoe tangled up on the pitcher s mound and did a cartwheel after throwing a pitch. Gallo struck out three times before hitting a home run against left-hander Zach Duke in the ninth. Gallo is the first Ranger to homer in each of his first two major league games.

9 Rangers right fielder Shin-Soo Choo had words with Sale in the third inning after Sale knocked him down on fall four. It was the third pitch that was up and in to Choo. Yeah, I mean I understand where he s coming from, Sale said. There s no doubt about it. In that situation, especially with a man on, I m not trying to hit him. I think we all saw the cartwheel before. But I get it. I throw three up there at his face, I wouldn t like it either. I understand where he s coming from but on the flip side of that, it s not the time or the place to hit somebody. It s one of those things. The Rangers are Jose Abreu homers in return to White Sox lineup Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun Times June 3, 2015 ARLINGTON, Texas After missing three games with a sore index finger on his right hand, Jose Abreu returned to the White Sox lineup Wednesday for their game against the Texas Rangers. Abreu seemed to be fine after striking out in the first inning, he belted a 410-foot home run to center field against Nick Martinez to give the Sox a 6-0 lead and added an RBI single in a 9-2 victory. A day after leadoff man Adam Eaton supplied the only offense with a two-run homer in a 15-2 loss to the Rangers, and having Abreu back was a welcome sight. Second baseman Carlos Sanchez drove in the first two Sox runs with a single and Eaton doubled in two runs. Tyler Flowers (3-for-5) hit a two-run homer and Gordon Beckham was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, raising his average to.284. It s good [having Abreu back], said right fielder Avisail Garcia, who returned to the lineup Saturday in Houston after missing five straight games with right knee inflammation. We re here to compete and hopefully everybody will stay healthy. Abreu was the designated hitter with Adam LaRoche at first base. I thank Hermie [trainer Herm Schneider], he did a great job helping me with the hand, my finger, Abreu said through an interpreter. I want to thank also Robin [Ventura] for the confidence that he gave me with the days to rest and to get better. And the results were good but the most important thing was we won today. It was a very important victory for us. I think that we have proved during this road trip that we have a very good team. We have to battle and fight. We are not in the best shape that we can get or we haven t shown our best game yet. But we are in a very good position and we are getting better every day. This road trip has helped us to get more like a unit, a team. And I just hope tomorrow we have to come back and win the last game of this road trip. Garcia on the mend Avisail Garcia, who got hit by a pitch to start the six-run second, winced after making a running catch during the first inning Tuesday night. He said the knee is OK. I feel good. I think it s in my mind because you protect where it hurts, he said. But I have to keep playing, doing my ice and take my treatment every day, and hopefully it will feel better every day. It s going to get better. If it gets worse I will stop but I can play with it. Garcia was hitting.340 since April 24 through Tuesday. LaRoche was hitting.355 with two homers and six RBI over his last six games, and he could see continued playing time at first base because of Abreu s finger. Just to make sure throwing wise, the finger that it s on is on his throwing hand, manager Robin Ventura said. We want to make sure that if something does happen we wouldn t have to do the thing we did the other day, where we had Flow [Tyler Flowers] going to first base. DH is the safest spot [for Abreu] and having LaRoche over at first. If something happens, we can adjust.

10 Sore hands are never good for a hitter. Adam Eaton played with a broken finger last season, so he can attest. When you swing it s a big deal, and with as much velocity as he swings with it s tough on his hands, Eaton said of Abreu. For me it altered it a little bit. You change a little bit but not a drastic amount and know every time you swing you re going to feel like crap. It is what it is. He s our best hitter, he has contributed with average and power. This and that Gordon Beckham was in the lineup at third base, not only because he is a better option than Conor Gillaspie defensively but also because of his bat, Ventura said. Beckham has started nine of the last 10 games. *Jesse Crain and Nate Jones pitched in simulated games Tuesday and are scheduled for more of the same Friday as the two right-handers work their way back from arm injuries. GM Rick Hahn discusses White Sox' performance, contingency plans and more Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun Times June 3, 2015 ARLINGTON, Texas General manager Rick Hahn met with reporters before the White Sox opened a three-game series against the Texas Rangers with a 15-2 loss on Tuesday night. The Sox (23-27) have been a disappointment 50 games into the season. Here s what he had to say: About the team s shaky defense It s gone back and forth a lot. I think we ve been all over the board in terms of our defensive play and there s been a fair amount of inconsistency. A lot has been made of the miscues, which have been disappointing and certainly frustrating. At the same time, we won that game on Sunday in large part thanks to Johnny Danks pitching but also what the defense did behind him. Similarly, a lot of debate about baserunning struggles and that first game in Baltimore I would argue we won because Beckham broke up that double play and got us a third one, which we obviously needed. So you see the solid defense, you see the heads up baserunning. It just hasn t been there as nearly consistently as we need it to be. I m encouraged by the positive signs we ve seen in recent days in both those regards. This could ve been a meat grinder of a road trip and we re coming off a stretch of 18 games in 17 days, the majority of it on the road and historically tough ballparks for us to play in. Certainly we re not throwing any parades that we ve gone 9-9 in that stretch, but that s pretty good work for what that schedule laid out ahead of us. Our off day allowed us a chance here to regroup, get everybody back fresh and now we hope to continue to play well and make some noise. About Carlos Sanchez, who has played good defense while hitting x since taking over for Micah Johnson at second base We brought him here with the expectation he was going to help stabilize the infield defense. I think he s absolutely done that and he s lived up to our expectations in that regard. Hitting out of the nine hole in the lineup, it s not on him to carry the offense, so to speak. He got a couple key hits along the way, he s grinded out a few at-bats and he s shown you he can be a tough out. As he gets more comfortable at this level you re going to see more and more of that. But really his job, his first job here was to help stabilize the defense and I think he s followed through on that. The starting rotation Guys have pitched deep into games. They ve given us a chance to win just about every time out there. And actually during that tough stretch, it s benefited the bullpen by eating up more of those innings and putting less of a burden on them. So from the front end being what we expected when we put them in their spots to Carlos [Rodon] at the back end stepping up and responding to the opportunities he s been given, we ve certainly been real pleased with where the rotation is right now.

11 It s still early, right? I don t know if you would classify it as early. It s still early in the season. We still have over 110 games left at this point. At the same time, we want to start seeing more of the consistency we ve seen in terms of the upside of our performance, some of the guys with the track record we expect them to eventually reach very likely will get going or will continue to get going over the next few weeks, and that s only going to help us in the long run. There certainly is plenty of time to put ourselves back in the position to win this thing, which was our goal from the start. About a contingency plan if he goes into seller s mode at the trade deadline: We have to. The marching orders for our scouts heading out of spring training was looking at our positions of need at the big-league level and targeting guys to help shore those up for a stretch run. At the same time, we have our pro scouts out at the minor-league level preparing for, should we need to go the other way, and look at more prospectfocused deals. At this point, our intent is to look to add at the deadline and put ourselves in a better position to win. We want to stay nimble enough that we can adapt with the more information we have than based upon where we are come mid-july. That said if the right opportunity presented itself now to make this big league club better, we d move on it. It s not really the time of year where a lot of clubs are looking to do that. Obviously the amateur draft is coming up. That s sort of a milestone where most teams are focused on getting through that and then turn the page toward preparation for the trade deadline. It s certainly conceivable that activity will pick up over the coming weeks. We aren t quite at that point yet. Lack of consistency and coaching staff addressing that In some ways, the physical errors aren t too different from a hitting slump in that you are going to struggle at times from a rhythm standpoint and defensively. The poor decision making is tougher, and that has required more time from Robin and his staff in terms of addressing individually or as a group in terms of what we re trying to accomplish. But it s all been handled, I believe. It s all been addressed, and it s going to continue to be addressed if the problems persist, but again I think there s been over the last several weeks a lot to be encouraged by in each of the important elements. We re not to the point where we want to be yet, but we feel the arrow s pointing up. We ve gotten some more consistency here over the last few weeks, on the good side of things. Jose Abreu homers as Chris Sale K's season-high 13 in win over Rangers Associated Press, ESPN.com June 3, 2015 ARLINGTON, Texas -- Jose Abreu talked his way back into the lineup and helped settle left-hander Chris Sale into his second straight scoreless outing. Abreu, back after missing three games with a swollen right index finger, homered in a six-run second, Sale struck out a season-high 13 in seven shutout innings and the Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 9-2 on Wednesday night. "He felt strongly about the fact that he felt fine today," manager Robin Ventura said of Abreu. "Sometimes it's not easy to say 'OK, let's send him back out there.' You maybe want to give him an extra day to make sure he's all right, but you have to trust the player sometimes.'' They compromised, with Abreu starting as the designated hitter to give the finger on the first baseman's throwing hand a little more time to heal for defensive work. He followed the two-run homer, his ninth, with an RBI single in the fourth. "I want to thank Robin for having confidence in me," Abreu said. "He gave me a few days to rest, and get better, and the results were good." Tyler Flowers added three hits, including a home run, as the White Sox bounced back from a 15-2 loss in the series opener.

12 Sale (5-2) allowed five baserunners in the first three innings before retiring the final 14 hitters he faced. He struck out Joey Gallo three times before Texas' top prospect homered again a night after his record-setting debut. "Seven runs definitely helps," said Sale, who allowed three hits and two walks. "It takes the pressure off. You saw my first inning. I was all over the place." The Rangers, who had a four-game winning streak end, said after the game that left fielder Josh Hamilton will miss four weeks with a strained left hamstring. The injury sidelines the 34-year-old slugger just seven games into his return, which included a two-homer game and a game-winning double that he says probably led to the strain. Hamilton came back to Texas in a trade after two disappointing seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. He missed the first two months after offseason shoulder surgery, the trade coming about a month into the season after four weeks of extended spring training and minor league rehab assignments. "It's frustrating. That's the best way I can put it," Hamilton said. "But you know what? There's nothing I can do about it. All I can do is try to get better as quick as I possibly can. I've had success getting back pretty quick in the past." Nick Martinez (4-2) allowed nine hits and seven earned runs in 3⅓ innings -- his shortest outing of the season for Texas. Gallo homered into the upper deck in right field for the second time in two major league games. The Rangers said the shot off reliever Zach Duke made him the first Texas player to homer in his first two big league games. Brought up from Double-A Frisco to fill in for third baseman Adrian Beltre while the four-time All-Star recovers from a sprained left thumb, Gallo was the designated hitter after setting a franchise record with four RBIs in his debut. But the lefty-on-lefty assignment against Sale was much tougher. Chicago's ace threw Gallo seven straight sliders to get the first two strikeouts, then set his season high by getting the 21- year-old swinging on a changeup in the seventh. The Rangers had a season-high 16 strikeouts. "You don't want to leave anything over the plate with him," said Sale, who has a scoreless streak of 19⅔ innings. "He can swing, and he swings with some purpose behind it." SCORING IN TWOS Before Abreu's two-run homer in the second, No. 9 hitter Carlos Sanchez had a two-run single and Adam Eaton drove in two when Texas left fielder Jake Smolinski misplayed a line drive for a double. Flowers made it 9-0 with a two-run homer in the seventh off Tanner Scheppers. TRAINER'S ROOM White Sox: Abreu is likely to get a few more games at DH while his finger heals, with Adam LaRoche filling in at first. Rangers: LHP Matt Harrison threw 79 pitches in a five-inning rehab stint for Triple-A Round Rock at Reno. He allowed two runs and five hits with a walk and four strikeouts. UP NEXT: White Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon (1-0) faces the Rangers for the first time in his eighth major league appearance and fifth start. Rangers: RHP Yovani Gallardo (5-6) is 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA in his past four starts after starting the season 2-5 with a 4.19 ERA. Wednesday's power rankings David Schoenfield, ESPN.com June 4, 2015

13 1. Lance McCullers Jr., Houston Astros. Saw the end of this 11-strikeout complete game. Outstanding. Loved that manager A.J. Hinch let the 21-year-old rookie finish off the 3-1 victory, which is basically unheard of in this age when young starters are treated cautiously. His pitch count was under control, he was still throwing 96 mph in the ninth and sometimes you have to test your players. Adam Jones singled with two outs to bring up Chris Davis. Hinch made a quick trip to the mound and told McCullers this game was his. On his 107th pitch, he struck out Davis with a curveball. Analysts have been questioning the Astros rotation depth behind Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh, but they have found it. McCullers' quick rise was certainly improbable -- he spent last season in Class A struggling with his control -- and I guess at some point we'll have to discuss an innings limit if he continues pitching well. For now, let's just enjoy the hardthrowing rookie. 2. Sonny Gray, Oakland Athletics. With a dominant performance against the Tigers, he's staking his claim as the best starter in the American League. By the way... the Tigers. That's six straight losses and they're down to They've scored more than three runs just once in nine games. 3. Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox. Oh, yeah, remember him? He's on a roll after a bit of a slow start and he's back to being one of the best starters in the game. Sale tossed scoreless innings, striking out 13, in a 9-2 win over the Rangers. 4. Brandon Barnes, Colorado Rockies. Nice catch! 5. Mark Buehrle, Toronto Blue Jays. The Crafty Veteran throws a Maddux -- aka, a complete game with fewer than 100 pitches. He threw 93 pitches in an 8-0 shutout of the Nationals. And Joc Pederson homered for the fifth game in a row. Chris Sale's dominant streak continues versus Texas Rangers Randy Jennings, ESPN.com June 3, 2015 ARLINGTON, Texas -- Chris Sale is hitting his stride. The Chicago White Sox left-hander continued to be dominant allowing only three hits and striking out 13 in seven shutout innings of a 9-2 win over the Texas Rangers. Sale is now 3-1 in his past five starts with a 1.40 ERA. I just try to go out and get in rhythm, said the 26-year-old. Pitching is finding a groove. And when you find it, stay in it as along as you can. Thanks to a six-run second inning, the Sox offense made it an easier night for Sale. He responded by retiring the final 14 Rangers he faced. He was up a little early, then settled in, said manager Robin Ventura. It is not an easy lineup to go through, especially in this park. Sale said he was all over the place in the first inning when the first two Rangers reached base in a scoreless game. He got out of trouble with a strikeout and a double play. The runs definitely help, Sale said. It takes the pressure off. Coming off a 15-2 loss on Tuesday, Sale was not surprised the way the White Sox turned the tables. That s what pros do. Our guys came ready to play tonight. It was fun to watch. Shin-Soo Choo became upset with Sale when ball four came high and inside on the Texas hitter. The Sox led 6-0 at the time.

14 I understand where he s coming from, Sale said. But I was not trying to hit him. I get it. If a ball was coming at my face, I wouldn t like it either. But it was not the time or place to hit somebody. Ventura called it a nice offensive game. The return of Jose Abreu makes a lot of difference. Abreu hit his ninth home run and finished with three RBIs. A swollen right index finger sidelined Abreu for the previous three games. Ventura said the Sox wanted to guard against rushing Abreu back too quickly, but you have to trust the player sometime. After the game, Abreu through a translator said even though he was not 100 percent, he was good enough to play. Abreu added the Sox are getting better every day, more like a unit. And he pointed out a win on Thursday would mean a winning road trip. Another Sox offensive star was catcher Tyler Flowers. Among his three hits: a two-run homer (his third) and a double. It is the eighth multi-extra base hit game of his career and the first of the season. The homer, estimated at 394 feet, came off Texas reliever Tanner Scheppers and extended the Chicago lead to 9-0. Rapid Reaction: White Sox 9, Rangers 2 Randy Jennings, ESPN.com June 3, 2015 ARLINGTON, Texas -- Chris Sale used a 95 mph fastball mixed with sweeping breaking pitches to befuddle the Texas Rangers in a 9-2 Chicago White Sox victory Wednesday night before 32,598 at Globe Life Park. Sale (5-2) in seven shutout innings limited Texas to three hits while striking out 13. Jose Abreu and Tyler Flowers hit two-run homers for the Sox. What it means: Chicago (24-27) evened the three-game series, decisively answering a 15-2 drubbing on Tuesday by the Rangers (27-26). In the standings, Chicago remains at the bottom of the AL Central and Texas holds steady at third in the AL West. Going deep: After missing three games with a swollen right index finger, Abreu announced his return to the Sox lineup with a two-run home run to center in the second inning that traveled an estimated 410 feet. It was No. 9 for Abreu and it increased the Sox s lead to 6-0. Abreu followed it up with a RBI single in fourth. Breezing along: Sale pitched carefully and worked out of a jam in the first inning, thanks to a double play, when the game was still scoreless. Good fortune was on his side, too. Elvis Andrus narrowly missed a two-run double in the third when his line drive fell just foul. The Rangers asked for a review, which upheld the call. With a big lead, Sale's final four innings were a breeze. Gallo homers: Until the ninth inning, Day 2 in a Rangers uniform did not go nearly as well as Tuesday s debut for Joey Gallo. Like a lot of other Rangers, Gallo had problems against Sale, striking out three times. But in the ninth, Gallo gave those who stayed around a reward, hammering his second home run in as many nights. Gallo became the first Ranger to homer in each of his first two major league games. Rough night: Rangers starter Nick Martinez saw his streak of having allowed no more than three earned runs in a game end at 16 games. The White Sox sent 10 to the plate and exploded for six runs in the second inning. A hit batsman started the uprising and a two-run home run by Abreu ended it. Martinez allowed nine hits and seven runs, all earned, in 3 1/3 innings, his shortest stint of the season. Big jump: In addition to his home run in the seventh, Flowers finished with three hits and raised his batting average 18 points to.216.

15 Going airborne: Rangers shortstop Andrus is becoming quite adept with jump throws. After going far to his right to glove a Carlos Sanchez grounder in the third, Andrus made a pinpoint throw to second for a force play to retire the side. Angry exchange: Shin-Soo Choo gestured and had some words for Sale on his way to first after ducking out of the way of a head-high fourth ball in the third inning. Up next: The three-game series concludes with a 8:05 p.m. ET start on Thursday at Globe Life Park. The White Sox will give the ball to left-hander Carlos Rodon (1-0, 3.45 ERA). Texas will counter with right-hander Yovani Gallardo (5-6, 3.88 ERA). White Sox see Chris Sale sliding back into ace form JJ Stankevitz, CSN June 3, 2015 ARLINGTON, Texas Holding a six-run lead after two innings, Chris Sale was able to comfortably dissect a Rangers lineup that plated 15 runs against the White Sox the night before. Sale s seven-inning, 13-strikeout masterpiece propelled the White Sox to a 9-2 win over Texas Wednesday night at Globe Life Park. The 26-year-old left-hander didn t allow a run and scattered three hits and two walks over his start, and retired the final 14 batters he faced nine of them on strikeouts. His ERA dropped to 3.27 with his Wednesday outing, and over his last four starts he has a 53-to-five strikeout-to-walk ratio. For the first time in his career, he's struck out double-digit batters in three consecutive starts. This is the Chris Sale the White Sox had penciled in atop their rotation heading into spring training, not the guy who gave up 14 runs over two starts and 8 1/3 innings in late April and early May. Manager Robin Ventura said Sale s spate of ineffectiveness could ve been the product of him missing most of spring training with a fractured ankle, though Sale said he wasn t sure if that was the case. I couldn t tell you, I try to go out there and pitch (well) every time, Sale said. Sometimes you do, sometimes you don t. I don t know if there s any rhyme or reason but you get in grooves and try to ride it. It s likely no coincidence, though, that Sale s recent surge has come as he s throwing more sliders. In his first five starts, Sale only threw his slider about one in every 10 pitches, according to TexasLeaguers.net. And only one in every 10 of those sliders generated a swing and a miss, while 30 percent of them were put in play. Over his last five starts, including Wednesday night in Texas, Sale has thrown sliders on about 18 percent of his pitches. And 22 percent of those sliders have generated a whiff over double the rate he had in his first five starts. His fastball and changeup have been improved in terms of swings and misses, too, but the slider has seen the most noticeable improvement. I worked on it in bullpens, flat ground and stuff like that, Sale said. It wasn t just really that good of a pitch early on, so just try to mix it in as much as I can and still not trying to overthrow it. Rangers megaprospect Joey Gallo bore the brunt of Sale s improved slider, flailing at it for two strikeouts before going down swinging on a changeup in his third at-bat. Sale temporarily halted the Gallo hype machine, which was turned on Tuesday with a home run and four RBIs in his debut and re-started when the 21-year-old ripped a 410-foot home run off Zach Duke in the ninth inning Wednesday. Sale and catcher Tyler Flowers don t want to over-use the slider, but facing a Rangers lineup where most of the power hit left-handed Shin-Soo Choo, Mitch Moreland and Gallo it was a reliable out-pitch. And it helped Sale take another step toward putting those early-season mishaps behind him.

16 We all know it s there, Ventura said, and I think he s getting that feeling back. Cabrera, White Sox not hitting panic button on season-long slump JJ Stankevitz, CSN June 3, 2015 ARLINGTON, Texas The White Sox aren t panicking as the guy they signed to a three-year, $42 million deal in the offseason continues to work through his early-season offensive malaise. Entering Wednesday night s game in Texas, outfielder Melky Cabrera has a.546 OPS, nearly 200 points below his career average and good for third-worst among qualified players this season. He s hitting just.236 and hasn t produced much power, only collecting five extra-base hits (four doubles, one home run) in 219 plate appearances. Cabrera, though, is avoiding a knee-jerk reaction to his slow start and said he s not trying anything different to reverse his fortune. I don t change anything in my game, Cabrera said through a translator. I just try to keep my focus, try to keep my approach at the plate. Baseball is a hard sport. You have to try to have confidence in your game and confidence in your work. That s the only way that you can, sooner rather than later, get out of the slump. Cabrera s poor production can still be partly chalked up to a small sample size, though a handful of other stats have passed that point of early-season dismissal. The good news is that those numbers that have stabilized aren t far off from what Cabrera had in 2014, when he hit.301/.351/.458 for Toronto. Cabrera is swinging at slightly more pitches and is making slightly more contact, while his walk rate and his line drive rate have dropped a bit but none of those percentages have swung by more than two percent. The biggest difference is, according to FanGraphs, he s making hard contact on about 10 percent fewer balls in play (30.5 percent in 2014, 19.8 percent in 2015) and his batting average on balls in play is down from.316 to.254. So it s been some nefarious combination of bad luck and being slightly off at the plate that s been the impetus behind Cabrera s lack of success at the plate. But regardless of why it's happened, he hasn t provided the two-hole salvation the White Sox thought they were getting when they stretched their budget this winter with Cabrera mostly hitting second, White Sox No. 2 hitters have a.541 OPS through 50 games, 93 points below 2014 s mark. He s had some days where he s hit it hard and not gotten anything out of it, manager Robin Ventura said. That still messes with your mind somewhat. You always want to get something out of it. (As) a veteran guy, he still has confidence in what he s doing and we do too in where he s going to end up. It s a viewpoint that shows neither Cabrera nor Ventura see the 30-year-old as having an on-base percentage well below.300 or being rated by WAR as the worst player on the team (-0.8) for much longer. Part of that thought is because Ventura hasn t dropped Cabrera out his No. 2 perch in the order, outside of a few games in which he s hit third or fourth. Cabrera said having a manager who believes in in him has helped him pull out of slumps in the past, and Ventura s willingness to let him work through his offensive issues without moving him lower in the order has helped keep his confidence high this year. It s key when the manager gives you the confidence to keep playing every day just because that makes you feel like you have all the confidence and you re able to keep working and do what you have to do to get better, Cabrera said. I feel very confident right now that things are going to change soon and we, as a team, are going to start playing much better. A return to form from Cabrera would certainly be a boost to the run-producing numbers of Jose Abreu, Adam LaRoche and Avisail Garcia behind him if he s able to get on base more and hit for a little more power. But Cabrera s big picture approach to his offensive struggles means he s not close to hitting the panic button with 112 games left to be played.

17 It s a long season, Cabrera said. You know there are going to be ups and downs and you just have to keep the consistency and your mind tough. Jose Abreu homers in return to White Sox lineup JJ Stankevitz, CSN June 3, 2015 ARLINGTON, Texas Jose Abreu s balky finger didn t seem to bother him much Wednesday night. After missing the White Sox last three games due to a bruised/swollen right index finger, Abreu returned to the lineup Wednesday and went 2-5 with three RBIs and a 410-foot home run as the White Sox cruised to a 9-2 win over Texas at Globe Life Park. I feel good, Abreu said through a translator. I feel much better than a couple of days ago. Probably not 100 percent but I feel good enough to play. Abreu thanked manager Robin Ventura and trainer Herm Schneider for helping him work through his finger pain after he began receiving treatment Friday. He was held out of the final two games against the Astros and Tuesday s series opener in Arlington as the White Sox took a cautious approach to his recovery. The plan will be for Abreu to DH for the next few games, since the bum finger is on his throwing hand and there remains the possibility it could flare up again. I think right now we would just to make sure throwing wise, the finger that it s on is on his throwing hand, Ventura said before Wednesday s game. We want to make sure that if something does happen, it could happen any day, we aren t just talking because of this injury. After the game, Ventura was more convinced Abreu was ready to return to being a fixture in the White Sox lineup. He seemed to be fine, Ventura said with a hint of deadpan. He felt strongly that he was fine today. It s sometimes not as easy just to say okay and send him back out there. You maybe want to give him and extra day just to make sure he s all right, but you ve got to trust the player sometimes. White Sox-Rangers Preview Associated Press, FoxSports.com June 4, 2015 Josh Hamilton's attempt at reviving his career during a second stint with the Texas Rangers has been interrupted. One day after learning the former AL MVP will miss four weeks with a strained left hamstring, the Rangers move on looking to rebound from a lopsided defeat Thursday night against the visiting Chicago White Sox. Batting.273 with two homers and five RBIs in seven games since being traded to Texas (27-26) and making his season debut from shoulder surgery, Hamilton didn't believe his current injury was serious. However, an MRI revealed a strain that halts the 34-year-old's bid for a fresh start after two disappointing seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and a more serious relapse involving cocaine and alcohol. ''It's frustrating. That's the best way I can put it,'' said Hamilton, who last played Sunday. ''But you know what? There's nothing I can do about it. All I can do is try to get better as quick as I possibly can. I've had success getting back pretty quick in the past.'' With veteran third baseman Adrian Beltre (thumb) placed on the disabled list Monday, Hamilton's injury is another blow for the Rangers, whose 9-2 loss to Chicago on Wednesday was their third in 14 game. "I feel bad for Josh," manager Jeff Banister said. "We had a lineup before he got here. We'll continue to use that lineup."

18 That lineup minus Hamilton pounded out 19 hits during a 15-2 rout of the White Sox (24-27) on Tuesday, but managed three over seven scoreless innings against Chris Sale one night later. Joey Gallo, however, provided one of Texas' six overall hits with a ninth-inning homer. That was his lone hit in four atbats after going 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs in his major league debut Monday. Looking to win a fifth straight series, the Rangers hand the ball to Yovani Gallardo (5-6, 3.88 ERA). The right-hander will try to win a third straight start after allowing two or fewer earned runs in three of his last four outings. One of those came over six innings of Friday's 7-4 victory over Boston to improve to 3-2 with a 3.16 ERA at home. Though this is the first time Gallardo will face Chicago, Adam LaRoche is batting.367 (11 for 30) with two homers and three doubles against him. LaRoche had one Chicago's 12 hits as it improved to 5-5 on an 11-game trip. After missing three games with a finger injury, White Sox slugger Jose Abreu went 2 for 4 with a two-run homer and three RBIs. ''He felt strongly about the fact that he felt fine (Wednesday),'' manager Robin Ventura said. ''Sometimes it's not easy to say 'OK, let's send him back out there.' You maybe want to give him an extra day to make sure he's all right, but you have to trust the player sometimes.'' The reigning AL Rookie of the Year is 10 for 23 with two home runs and eight RBIs in his last six games versus Texas. Teammate Carlos Rodon (1-0, 3.45) has allowed one earned in each of his last two outings, most recently Friday on eight days' rest and over innings of a 6-3, 11-inning victory at Houston. "It worked out," the rookie left-hander told MLB's official website of the extra rest. "Made some adjustments and got down to basics, just throwing strikes. That's all you can do and all you can control."