Sox give up 5-run lead in lopsided loss
ARLINGTON, Texas - Rougned Odor homered twice, Mike Napoli also went deep, and both had five RBIs as the Texas Rangers overcame an early 5-run deficit to beat the Chicago White Sox 17-7 on Saturday night.
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.
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."
Napoli added a 3-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.
Martin Perez (8-10), needed 40 pitches in the first as Chicago went ahead 5-0, but made it through six innings to win his third straight start.
Shin-Soo Choo had 4 hits with a 3-run homer for Texas (61-61), which has won eight of 10 and is only 1½ games behind the American League's second wild-card spot.
Jose Abreu hit his 24th homer for the White Sox, who have lost six of seven.