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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Ismael Valdes had no complaints about his run support on Wednesday night. | |
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Rafael Palmeiro hit a three-run homer and Herbert Perry added a two-run shot to back Valdes as the Texas Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox 11-6. Valdes (6-9) has been hampered by a lack of run support all
season, but the Rangers gave him a 7-0 lead after three innings.
Texas had scored three runs or fewer in 13 of his first 22 starts
and managed 11 runs in his nine defeats. He had been 0-3 over his
previous seven starts despite a 3.23 ERA. ``It was great,'' said Valdes, shivering postgame after being
treated for dehydration on the steamy night. ``I was hitting my
spots with good pitches. I had one bad inning, but otherwise I felt
fine. Getting runs early gives you confidence.'' Valdes allowed six runs and seven hits over six innings. He
struck out four and walked two. Palmeiro went 3-for-5, Perry matched a career high with four RBI and Alex Rodriguez had an RBI to give him 100 for the fifth consecutive season. Kevin Mench went 2-for-2 and had three walks for Texas. Palmeiro said it was important for Valdes' confidence to give
him an early margin. ``He's been pitching great every time out, but he's had some
tough luck,'' Palmeiro said. ``So it was good we were able to score
a lot of runs. That gave him some confidence.'' Frank Thomas' three-run homer keyed a five-run fifth inning for
the White Sox. The Rangers got to White Sox left-hander Jim Parque (1-2) for
five runs and four hits over the first 1 1/3 innings. Parque walked
three and didn't have a strikeout. Parque made his first start in more than 15 months on last
Thursday, allowing two runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings in a
3-2 victory over Anaheim. Parque made three relief appearances
earlier this year as he attempts to come back from shoulder surgery
in May 2001. Parque said his arm was fine, but he had problems with his
mechanics. ``This is the worst outing I've had in my entire career,''
Parque said. ``I had no command out there tonight. I can live with
it when I get hit hard but when I walk guys I can't live with that. I was terrible.'' Michael Young led off the Rangers first with a walk and Mench singled to set up Palmeiro, who hit his 32nd homer and 479th of his career. Young sprained his right ankle on the game's last play when he
made a sliding catch of a popup in foul ground down the right-field
line. Right fielder Carl Everett ran after the ball and he tumbled
to the ground just as Young caught the ball, with Young rolling his
ankle as he slid to the ground. ``It was a great play,'' Rangers manager Jerry Narron said of
Young's catch. ``He plays hard every day. Every guy on the team
respects the way he goes about his business.'' Young was examined by team medical personnel after the game, and Young said there were no broken bones or torn ligaments, only swelling. Second-inning sacrifice flies by Young and Alex Rodriguez pushed
the Rangers advantage to 5-0. Perry's two-run homer in the third off Matt Ginter made it 7-0. Perry's 13 homers are a career high. Carlos Lee's leadoff homer in the fourth got the White Sox on
the scoreboard, but the Rangers made it 8-1 in the fourth when a
run scored on Perry's double-play grounder. Perry was credited with
an RBI because the second out of the double play was registered
when Everett attempted to advance from second to third. Chicago got back in the game in the fifth on Magglio Ordonez's
two-run double and Thomas' three-run blast, pulling the White Sox
within 8-6. The homer was Thomas' 20th of the season, his 10th
straight season with 20 or more. In the eighth, Texas made it 11-6 on Ivan Rodriguez's RBI
double, Perry's sacrifice fly and Kelly Wunsch's bases-load walk to
Ruben Rivera. Game notes
Batting practice for both teams was washed out by heavy
rain. The game started 10 minutes late while field preparation was
completed. ... Perry hadn't homered since July 16. ... The White
Sox had won six of their previous seven.
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