Alex Rios shines as the Chicago White Sox defeat Texas Rangers 3-2 – MLB Update
Alex Rios put in a brilliant performance in the eighth inning on Saturday, August 20 to help the Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 3-2 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.
"I've never lost my confidence. It's something that athletes can't do. It will bring you down," Rios said. "I'm just trying my best and I'm not going to quit. Even if I'm at my lowest point, I'm not going to quit. I'm ready to battle."
Rios was brought in the game after Carlos Quentin ended up injuring his left shoulder. But the team manager dispelled the impression that he had broken up his shoulder. "It's not broken. That's what I was worried about," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.
"Carlos is a big kid. When you put all the weight in just one spot, you're going to be sore for a little while."
John Danks barely gave up a one-out double in the 107 pitches that he threw. His magical spell was the best criterion to judge how he confined the Texas Rangers’ hitters. "It was one of the rare games you feel like you get stronger as the game goes on,"
he said.
The Rangers, like the last game that they had won by 7-4, started an overly aggressive game on Saturday. Ian Kinsler was the first to homer in the very first inning to give the Texas Rangers an early lead.
But that did not stay for long once Alexi Ogando came on the mound. The Chicago White Sox Alexei Ramirez had a singled to left-centre to level the score in the 3-hit one-run first inning. Danks then threw a strong inning to keep the Texas’ hitters at bay.
With the start of the second inning, Juan Pierre singled to left centre to score the tiebreaking run for the Chicago White Sox that was soon to be levelled again by Ian Kinsler who had the second homer of the game for the Rangers.
Alexi Ogando was not replaced as he was allowed to pitch. The Texas Rangers heavily relied on the hitters to change the tide of the game. Nevertheless, that did not seem to materialise given the fastballs that Danks threw.
Jesse Crain replaced Danks and tossed a shut-out eighth, with the score tied. It was in the ninth when, despite the boos directed at Chicago White Sox hitter, Alex Rios doubled to deep left to score the tie breaking run for his team.
The closer Sergio Santos capitalised on the gains made by the team and threw a hitless and scoreless ninth to turn the 3-2 lead into the victory for the Chicago White Sox.
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