Rangers Edge White Sox

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ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers are finally starting to take advantage of playing games at Globe Life Park.

For the second time in their seven-game homestand, the Rangers managed a walk-off win, with right fielder Shin-Soo Choo slapping a single to left center in the bottom of the 11th to lift Texas to a 2-1 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.

The Rangers finished the homestand 5-2 and are a season high two games over .500 despite losing both Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre to injuries during the seven games.

“A lot of people say we’ve have a bad record at home but we’ve tried to win every game and tonight we used the bullpen, both teams, that’s really more than one game and I think everybody did a good job tonight,” said Choo, who was hitless on the night before the game winner off left-hander Dan Jennings.

Choo’s hit scored center-fielder Leonys Martin from second as Martin opened the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice. Choo’s hit ended a night in which the Rangers stranded 14 runners and were just 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

But because of the pitching from starter Yovani Gallardo and five relievers, it was enough to move the Rangers to 11-15 at home.

“This was the toughest,” Texas manager Jeff Banister said of the homestand. “I believe we left 14 on base and Gallardo grinded through the outing tonight and found a two-seamer he was able to use to get out of trouble late. It was a spectacular homestand for our

organization. I was incredible for all of us to put the W’s on the board.”

The Rangers had their hands full because the Chicago pitching staff was equally as tough to hit. Rookie left-hander Carlos Rodon struck out 10 in his six innings and the three relievers who followed him helped keep the Rangers off the board until the 11th.

Texas scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from designate hitter Prince Fielder but then the offense went quiet. Chicago tied the game in the fourth on a sacrifice fly form third baseman Gordon Beckham.

That was it though for the White Sox as they managed just six hits, with all six singles.

“Carlos put a lot of guy on early and wiggled his way out of it,” Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. “He had the one hit get through but he was pretty tough after that. He continued to battle. It showed a lot of who he is and what he’s about. We had a lot of guys on base. Both teams did. We had plenty of opportunities and it could have been won on both sides earlier. We got to be able to get a hit and knock in a run with guys in scoring position.”

Rodon allowed just five hits and lowered his ERA to 3.12 after setting a career high for strikeouts. He did so against a Texas lineup that’s second in the American League in runs scored.

“That’s a tough lineup for sure,” he said. “One of the best I’ve faced. Fielder’s a tough out. Choo’s a tough out, real patient. They are a real patient club and I had to fight through the whole time to throw strikes and get the ball over the plate and force poor contact on some pitches. It was a tough outing.”

While the White Sox had a strong night from their heralded rookie, Texas third baseman Joey Gallo struggled. Gallo, who homered in the first two games of the series, committed two errors and struck out twice. But he also singled and was intentionally walked in the 10th inning.

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