Rangers rout White Sox, 11-2, to open 3-game series between teams battling for AL division titles

CHICAGO (AP/WGN) — In the opener of a three-game series between teams battling to win their respective American League divisions, things did not go well for the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at Rate Field.

Corey Seager had three hits and three RBI, while Jake Burger, who began his MLB career with the White Sox, and Wyatt Langford each homered to lead the Texas Rangers to an 11-2 victory over Chicago.

The White Sox saw their AL Central lead shrink to 2 1/2 games over the Cleveland Guardians, who won Monday night, while the Rangers took a half-game lead over the idle Houston Astros to take sole possession of first place in the AL West for the first time since July 30.

Ezequiel Duran drove in two runs for the Rangers on Monday, while Kumar Rocker (5-10) pitched 5 2/3 innings for the win, allowing two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and three walks. Robby Ahlstrom retired all four batters he faced, and Jordan Montgomery finished with two perfect innings.

Joc Pederson drew a walk from White Sox starter José Urquidy (2-2) to start the game before scoring on Duran's groundout. Evan Carter added a two-out RBI double for a 2-0 lead.

Brandon Nimmo robbed Andrew Benintendi of a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to keep it 2-0.

Duran's two-out infield hit with the bases loaded made it 3-0 in the second. Pederson was ejected by home plate umpire Chris Guccione for comments from the dugout before Carter's groundout ended the inning. Pederson — mired in an 0-for-24 slump — struck out looking and was too late trying to challenge the call to start the inning.

Tristan Peters homered for a third straight game and the 10th time this season, a two-out shot in the second off Rocker that cut it to 3-2, but Seager drove in two with a two-out double in the third for a 5-2 advantage.

Burger hit his 22nd homer leading off the fifth. Justin Foscue — who replaced Pederson — and Seager had back-to-back doubles with two outs for a 7-2 lead.

Burger added an RBI double in the sixth, Duran scored on a wild pitch in the eighth and Langford hit his 15th homer — a two-run shot off Trevor Richards — in the ninth for the final margin.

Urquidy allowed five runs and six hits with four walks over three innings. He was coming off a splendid performance in the Crosstown Classic last week Wednesday, when he fired six shutout innings in relief, with eight strikeouts, in a 3-0 win.

Up next

Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (9-8. 3.77 ERA) starts Tuesday opposite White Sox LHP Anthony Kay (9-6, 3.96).

First pitch from Rate Field is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. The teams conclude the series Wednesday, also at 6:40 p.m.