ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Rougned Odor and Mike Napoli drove in enough runs on their own to make up for the Texas Rangers’ early deficit.
Odor homered twice, Napoli also went deep, and both had five RBIs, as the wild card-hopeful Rangers overwhelmed the Chicago White Sox 17-7 on Saturday night after trailing by five runs before even going to bat.
“We’re playing really good baseball as a team, and that’s how we need to keep playing,” said Odor, who had gone 15 games since Aug. 1 without a homer or an RBI. “That’s how we need to keep playing to win the games, and I feel really happy how we’re playing right now, and I hope we keep playing like that.”
The Rangers (61-61) have won eight of 10 and are only 1 1/2 games behind the American League’s second wild-card spot.
Odor’s first homer, a three-run shot in the third, made it 7-5 and ended the night for White Sox starter Derek Holland (6-13), the former Ranger starting as an opponent in Texas for the first time. That came soon after Napoli’s two-run double.
Napoli added a three-run homer in the fourth before Odor hit a solo shot into the second deck of seats in right field to cap the Rangers’ second consecutive six-run inning. Napoli and Odor each have 26 homers.
“This is how we envisioned being as a lineup from the beginning of the year,” Napoli said. “It’s a fun time and we’re right there, and just going one day at a time and having fun with it.”
Martin Perez (8-10), needed 40 pitches in the first as Chicago went ahead 5-0, but he made it through six innings to win his third straight start. The lefty needed only 56 more pitches and gave up only one more run after the first.
Holland spent his first eight MLB seasons in Texas, where he still lives, but the Rangers last winter declined their $11 million option and bought out the lefty for $1.5 million. He was 62-50 with a 4.35 ERA in 179 career games for Texas, but was plagued by injuries the past three seasons.
“I just couldn’t get rhythm. I just didn’t have the tempo I usually need,” Holland said. “I was definitely excited to be back home and pitch in front of the old fans and be back in front of Texas again. To give a showing like I did, it didn’t help the cause. … I’m just upset with myself.”
ALSO GOING DEEP
Shin-Soo Choo had four hits with a three-run homer for Texas. … Jose Abreu hit his 24th homer for the White Sox, who have lost six of seven.
LOT OF RUNS
The Rangers had multiple six-run innings in the same game for the first time since Aug. 22, 2007, when they had three such innings in their 30-3 win at Baltimore. … The 17 runs were a season high for Texas and the most allowed by the White Sox. … The Rangers’ 20 hits were also their most. Joey Gallo (0 for 2, three walks) was the only starter without a hit. Everybody else had at least two hits.
TRACKING BELTRE
Adrian Beltre had two hits, pushing his career total to 3,022 to break a tie with Rafael Palmeiro and move within one of Lou Brock for 26th on the all-time list. Beltre’s RBI single pushed his career total to 1,624, breaking a tie with Chipper Jones for 30th on that list. He played in his 2,789th game, matching Tris Speaker for 24th.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: 2B Yoan Moncada was a late scratch from the starting lineup because of shin splints in his right leg. … RHP Reynaldo Lopez (strained back), the loser in Thursday’s series opener, was put on the 10-day DL.
Rangers: OF Carlos Gomez was put on the 10-day DL, retroactive to Wednesday, after the cyst that was on his back was surgically removed. He has missed the last six games.
UP NEXT
White Sox: Miguel Gonzalez (6-10) has made six starts since coming off the disabled list (AC joint inflammation). Take out seven runs in 1 2/3 innings against Boston, and the right-hander has a 1.89 ERA the other five games.
Rangers: A.J. Griffin (6-3) starts as the Rangers try to wrap up an 8-2 home stand and move a game over .500 for the first time since they were 39-38 on June 27.
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