MATT CARLSON
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — Adam Rosales hasn’t been a big hitter throughout his career. Except when he faces Chris Sale.
Rosales homered twice in a game for the first time in his career and Nick Tepesch pitched scoreless ball into the sixth inning, leading the Texas Rangers over Sale and the Chicago White Sox 3-1 Wednesday.
Rosales hit a two-run shot in the second of Sale (10-2), Chicago’s left-handed ace, and added a solo shot in the seventh of reliever Daniel Webb.
Rosales entered the game with only one homer this season, 21 in his career and a .222 lifetime batting average in parts of seven seasons.
But against Sale, a three-time All-Star, Rosales is 6 for 11 with three homers.
“I feel like I’ve always picked up the ball pretty well against Sale,” Rosales said. “I’m an aggressive hitter and he just comes right at me.”
“A power pitcher, and he’s going to come right at you and you better be ready,” he said.
The Rangers, who began the day with baseball’s worst record, have won consecutive games for the first time since June 27-28. They routed the White Sox 16-0 on Tuesday night.
Tepesch (4-7) gave up six hits in 5 2-3 innings. He had lost four straight decisions, and skipped a turn because of a sore left knee.
“He hadn’t pitched in 10 days, so I didn’t know what to expect,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said.
Sale allowed three hits in six innings, striking out nine. His only other loss this season came on June 12, when he was outdueled by Detroit’s Max Scherzer.
“I was just sporadic through the whole day,” Sale said. “It’s just been the last couple of starts. Fastball command has been kind of off.”
Chicago’s Dayan Viciedo homered in the seventh off Roman Mendez. Neftali Feliz got two outs for his fourth save in five chances.
White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton exited in the second after running into the right-center field fence trying to catch Rosales’ homer. Eaton bruised his lower back.
“I’ve never done that before,” Eaton said. “Little embarrassed, but my back kind of took a beating a little bit there. I’m very happy that it wasn’t my head.”
In four starts and one relief appearance in July, Tepesch allowed 18 runs in 22 2-3 innings before his knee flared up in the seventh inning of his last start, on July 26 against Oakland.
This time, Tepesch sailed through five innings before leaving with runners on second and third and two outs in the sixth. Roman Mendez replaced him and got major league home run leader Jose Abreu to ground out.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: Catcher Geovany Soto (strained right groin) is expected to be activated from the disabled list on Friday, and catcher Chris Gimenez comes off three-day paternity leave Thursday. With catcher Robinson Chirinos already on the roster and the addition of first baseman Mike Carp on Monday, Gimenez will likely to be sent to Triple-A Round Rock.
White Sox: Alejandro De Aza was back in left field after sitting out Tuesday night’s game with a bruised left knee. … Pitching coach Don Cooper missed the game because of a recurrence of vertigo-like symptoms. He won’t make the trip with the team to Seattle. Cooper has missed 13 games with the condition so far.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Texas is off on Thursday, then opens a three-game series at Houston on Friday. Rangers RHP Miles Mikolas (1-4, 7.29) is scheduled to make his seventh start against LHP Brett Oberholtzer (4-7, 4.13).
White Sox: Chicago starts a four-game series at Seattle on Thursday night. RHP Scott Carroll (4-6, 4.36) will oppose RHP Roenis Elias (8-9, 4.19). Carroll is 2-1 with a 3.03 ERA in his last four starts.
WELL DUNN
White Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn took the mound for the first time since high school when he pitched the ninth inning of Tuesday’s 16-0 loss to the Rangers. The 6-foot-6, 280-pounder allowed one run on two hits and a walk. “I really don’t know what I threw,” he joked. “I was just holding the ball and spinning it one way or another.”
HOMETOWN SHOW
Rosales, a native of the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, Ill, put on his power show front of family, including his mother, father, wife and daughter. He left 15 passes for Wednesday’s game and 25 for Tuesday’s contest. “It’s neat to do it, this is my hometown,” he said.
ELVIS SINGS
Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus extended his hitting streak to 13 games with two singles off Sale. He had been 0 for 15 in his career against Sale.
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