Choo hits grand slam as Rangers pound White Sox 12-5
CHICAGO (AP) -- Shin-Soo Choo hit his first grand slam in eight years, leading the Texas Rangers to a 12-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
Choo made it 9-3 with his drive against reliever Chris Volstad in a five-run third inning. He also singled and scored in the fourth and walked twice.
Jurickson Profar and Joey Gallo each drove in three runs for Texas. Jesse Chavez (2-0) and two other relievers combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings following a shaky start by Matt Moore. The Rangers picked up the win after blowing a late lead the previous night to start this four-game series between last-place teams.
With their 10th loss in 12 games, the White Sox are 11-30. It's the worst 41-game start in franchise history, as well as the worst record in the majors this season. They are also 4-16 at home, a low point for them through 20 games.
Jose Abreu had a pair of RBI doubles and scored two runs. But Carson Fulmer (2-4) made another early exit in his third straight loss.
Nicky Delmonico left with a broken bone in his right middle finger, and it all added up to another painful night for the White Sox.
Fulmer struggled with his control on a rainy night after getting knocked out by Minnesota and the crosstown Cubs. The 24-year-old right-hander gave up eight runs and three hits in two-plus innings. He walked five, hit two batters and threw a wild pitch.
Fulmer has allowed 18 runs (17 earned) over 7 1/3 innings in his last three starts and has as many walks (11) as strikeouts in that span. He exited with the White Sox trailing 5-3 in the third after walking Robinson Chirinos to load the bases.
Volstad got two outs before Choo broke the game open by driving an 0-2 pitch beyond the right-field bullpen. The grand slam was the fourth of his career and first since 2010 with Cleveland.
Moore gave up five runs -- four earned -- and five hits in 3 2/3 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: LHP Cole Hamels' status remained up in the air a day after he was scratched from his scheduled start because of neck stiffness. Manager Jeff Banister was waiting for Hamels to play catch Friday before making an announcement. ... Banister said the reports on RHP Tim Lincecum (blister on right middle finger) were "much improved" following his latest rehab outing for Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner has been working in relief and has a 7.11 ERA in five rehab appearances.
White Sox: Delmonico is expected to miss four to six weeks after he was hit by a pitch from Moore in the second inning. ... The White Sox got another visit from Danny Farquhar, and they continue to be encouraged by the reliever's recovery from a brain hemorrhage last month.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Had not announced a starter for Saturday's game as of late Friday night.
White Sox: RHP Lucas Giolito (2-4, 6.91 ERA) looks for a better result at home after going 0-2 with a staggering 13.89 ERA in his first three starts at Guaranteed Rate Field.
