Hunter pitches Rangers to 3-1 win over White Sox

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Tommy Hunter scattered nine singles over seven-plus innings and the Texas Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 on Saturday night.

Hunter (5-0) allowed one run, struck out three and walked one for the AL West leaders.

Hunter, who has gone at least six innings in five of his six starts this season, left in the eighth after Juan Pierre drew a leadoff walk and Alexei Ramirez singled for his third hit of the night.

The runners moved up on Frank Francisco's balk, and Pierre scored on Alex Rios' groundout.

But Francisco struck out slugger Paul Konerko and retired Andruw Jones on a fly ball to preserve the two-run lead.

Chicago's first nine hits were singles until pinch-hitter Brent Lillibridge's leadoff double in the ninth against Darren Oliver. Neftali Feliz struck out pinch-hitter Carlos Quentin and Gordon Beckham for his 23rd save in 24 chances.

White Sox starter John Danks (7-7) gave up two runs and four hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked four.

Danks' teammates have provided three runs or fewer in 10 of his 16 starts this season.

Chicago had won 17 of 21.

Josh Hamilton extended his home hitting streak to 23 games with a second-inning infield single. Hamilton is tied with Michael Young (2009) and Ivan Rodriguez (1995) for the second-longest home streak since the team relocated from Washington in 1972.

Al Oliver's 30-game run in 1981 is the club's longest at home.

Later in the second, Joaquin Arias' groundout drove in Hamilton from third with the game's first run. Elvis Andrus made it 2-0 in the fifth when his single scored Arias from second.

The Rangers stretched their lead to 3-0 in the seventh when Nelson Cruz scored from third while pinch-hitter Justin Smoak was grounding into a double play.