CHICAGO – Kevin Youkilis did it again.
Youkilis delivered what proved to be the game-deciding hit for a second consecutive day, as his solo home run in the sixth was the difference in the White Sox 2-1 victory over the Rangers on Thursday afternoon.
Youkilis scored both of the White Sox runs.
The White Sox handed the Rangers their first three-game sweep of the season. Texas had gone 52 consecutive series of three-or-more games without being swept, which was the longest current streak in the majors.
Matt Harrison turned in another strong start, but lost for the first time since May 12. He went the distance, allowing two runs on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts over eight innings.
The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on an RBI single by Adrian Beltre, but the White Sox answered in the bottom half. Youkilis drew a one-out walk, and scored on a grounder by Alexei Ramirez.
Youkilis led off the sixth by sending a 1-1 curveball from Harrison over the right-field fence. It was the first home run Harrison had allowed since June 3, a stretch of 40 1/3 innings.
-- Drew Davison
Drew doesn't talk about the fact that the Rangers were out pitched in this game, a 2 hitter, and the series by the White Sox.
The team is fortunate that they next face a weak team again in Minnesota. What they will face in AL West is good pitching from at least two teams.
And if they make the AL playoffs they just face the White Sox again.
This team has several players that are below their hitting levels of last year. And, the pitching staff is troubled in several areas... else the talk around the MLB about the Rangers looking at several teams pitchers and the trade deadline would not be happening.
Posted by: Bob In Arlington | July 05, 2012 at 05:29 PM