Frazier's slam in 12th keeps Chicago White Sox rolling

Before Saturday night's game against the Twins at U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago White Sox cleanup hitter Todd Frazier admitted he was frustrated.

“I have to step it up a little bit, basically,” Frazier said. “The bottom line is so far it has been a tough month for me.”

Frazier flied out in first at-bat against Minnesota, extending his May slump to 0-for-20. But the third baseman homered in his next at-bat and has continued to take big steps forward while helping the Sox win games.

In Monday night's 8-4 victory over the Rangers in 12 innings, Frazier was 4-for-6 with 6 RBI.

Frazier decided the outcome in the 12th with his second home run of the game — a grand slam off Texas relief pitcher Cesar Ramos — as the White Sox (23-10) won their fourth straight.

“That's a lot of fun right there,” Frazier said on the WPWR postgame show. “Just enjoy this game because you know it's eventually going to turn.”

While his batting average is still low at .215, Frazier ranks second in the American League with 10 home runs and fourth with 27 RBI. Frazier hit a solo homer in the sixth inning and added a run-scoring single in the eighth.

In his White Sox debut, at Toronto on April 25, Miguel Gonzalez was knocked around by a challenging Blue Jays lineup.

Gonzalez allowed 5 runs on 11 hits in 5⅓ innings, but the Sox rallied late against Toronto ace Marcus Stroman and beat the Jays 7-5. After the start, Gonzalez was sent back to Class AAA Charlotte.

A rotation spot opened last week when the White Sox released John Danks, and Erik Johnson got the first crack. Johnson was ineffective against the Red Sox on Thursday and optioned back to Charlotte.

Getting another chance to earn a spot in the starting five, Gonzalez was solid against Texas. Facing a potent Rangers lineup, Gonzalez went 5⅔ innings and allowed 1 run on 3 hits and 3 walks.

Looking a lot more like the pitcher who was 30-21 with a 3.45 ERA from 2012-14, when he was starting for Baltimore, Gonzalez is a near lock to stay in the White Sox's rotation for the short term.

While battling injuries last year with the Orioles, the 31-year-old right-hander was 9-12 with a 4.91 ERA. Baltimore released Gonzalez late in spring training, and the Sox signed him to a minor-league contract April 3.