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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The thing Chicago manager Jerry Manuel
loves about reliever Sean Lowe is the way he finds a batter's
weakness, then goes right after it. His resilience isn't bad
either.
Lowe, his right eye still bloody from a line drive late in
spring training, provided crucial relief for a third straight game,
this time stopping a big Texas rally to help the White Sox beat the
Rangers 12-8 Wednesday.
|  | | White Sox second baseman Ray Durham turns the double play over the Rangers' David Segui. |
Lowe didn't get the win, but he was a big reason for it.
Texas scored 10 and 12 runs the first two games and appeared
ready to do it again by opening the fifth with five straight runs
off Chicago starter Jim Parque. The rally turned a 7-1 White Sox
lead into a one-run game.
Lowe came in, but the Rangers' roll seemed to continue when
shortstop Jose Valentin booted an easy grounder. Then David Segui
singled.
But Lowe didn't give in. He struck out hot-hitting Gabe Kapler
and got Luis Alicea to bounce into an inning-ending double play.
Lowe blew through the sixth inning by striking out the side.
Lowe's out pitch was his curveball. What made it so effective
was a strong wind that kept knocking it down.
"If I find something working, I'm going to use it 'til it
don't," said Lowe, who was told he might miss the opener after
being drilled by Arizona's David Dellucci on March 27. "They
weren't taking real good swings at it, so I stayed with it."
The Rangers ended up tying the game 7-7 in the eighth when
Segui scored from second on a botched grounder and throwing error
by White Sox second baseman Ray Durham.
Chris Singleton wasted no time regaining the lead for Chicago,
pulling the first pitch of the ninth off Jeff Zimmerman (0-1) into
the right-field seats. The White Sox got four more runs on a RBI
singles by Durham and Paul Konerko and a two-run double by Frank
Thomas.
Texas' last-gasp attempt started with a homer by Chad Curtis off
Bob Howry, but Howry retired the Rangers' 3-4-5 hitters to seal
Chicago's first victory in its 100th season.
"I like the spirit and the chemistry of this club, they way our
guys continue to fight -- 7-1, 7-6, 7-7 and then we go out there and
score five runs," Manuel said. "Last year, we always seemed to
fall short in these games. Today, we got one."
Zimmerman lost his fourth straight decision since opening his
career 9-0. He struck the out the first two hitters he faced and
pitched a scoreless eighth, then was tagged for four runs in the
ninth.
"It wasn't fatigue, it was a lack of aggressiveness," said
Zimmerman, who also had a rocky spring. "I started trying to
nibble away at the corners instead of going right at hitters."
Durham went 3-for-6 with three RBIs and Thomas was 2-for-4 with
two runs and two RBIs. Magglio Ordonez drove in two runs with
sacrifice flies, including one on a bases-loaded popup to short
center field.
Craig Wilson crashed into Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez to score
in the third. Rodriguez had the plate blocked, but he couldn't
handle the one-hop throw from left fielder Chad Curtis. When Wilson
stood up, Rodriguez shoved him down with both hands and his right
foot. He later apologized.
Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro each went 2-for-5. Rodriguez had
two RBIs and Palmeiro hit a three-run homer for the second straight
game. Segui went 3-for-3.
Chicago built its early lead against Rangers starter Darren
Oliver, making his return after a 1{ years in St. Louis. He allowed
seven runs on seven hits in 4 2-3 innings with four walks and two
strikeouts.
"I thought everything was going good, but a walk here and then
a double, double, double," he said. "Everything happened so
quick."
Parque allowed six runs and nine hits in four innings.
Game notes
Texas' Gabe Kapler, who reached in eight of nine plate
appearances the first two games, was 0-for-3. He struck out,
grounded out with two on and hit into a double play before getting
down a sacrifice bunt. ... Fans cheered when a fifth-inning liner
by Durham nicked first-base umpire Paul Emmel, who earlier in the
inning made a close call against the Rangers. Durham winced, but
Emmel smiled it off. ... McKay Christensen pinch ran in the ninth,
making him the final Chicago regular to appear this season. ...
Curtis started in left field for Texas, giving Rusty Greer a day
off to rest an ailing ankle. That leaves Scott Sheldon as the last
regular player yet to appear.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Chi. White Sox Clubhouse
Texas Clubhouse
RECAPS
Chi. White Sox 12
Texas 8
Oakland 8
Detroit 2
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Cleveland 7
Kansas City 4
Toronto 3
Minnesota 10
Tampa Bay 7
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NY Yankees 6
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