ARLINGTON, Texas – The White Sox need a fifth starter, and Miguel Gonzalez, for one very good start against the Texas Rangers anyway, pitched like he can fill the bill.
That, perhaps, in the long run may turn out to be the Sox’ big win of the night. But these are the 2016 White Sox, who seem to live in the moment and demonstrated another dramatic one on the road with Todd Frazier’s grand slam in the 12th inning against Cesar Ramos. The blast, after an intentional walk to Jose Abreu, came after the Sox’ bullpen had uncharacteristically blown a lead, and topped off with another rousing, 8-4 road victory that pushed the Sox’ AL best record to 23-10.
“Frazier, a big day for him, it was awesome to watch,’’ said Gonzalez, who was gone but not forgotten after the Sox’ fourth straight win, seventh in the last nine games and fourth in a row over the Rangers this season. “It was fun to watch. Everyone battled and did what we had to do.’’
Gonzalez did what he had to do to earn another start, which manager Robin Ventura said is likely, probably this weekend against the Yankees in New York.
“I’d like to see him throw another one,’’ Ventura said. “I thought he did a good job. He pitched well. He earned another shot at it.’’
Gonzalez threw 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball, and didn’t allow a run until Rougned Odor ripped a misplaced fastball into the right field seats in the sixth inning for his seventh home run.
Gonzalez left with a lead, but the Sox’ usually reliable bullpen couldn’t close this one out. Protecting a 3-1 lead, Nate Jones gave up a leadoff triple to Odor in the eighth and an RBI single to Adrian Beltre. With two outs in the eighth, Ventura went to closer David Robertson for a four-out save but Ian Desmond ripped Robertson’s first pitch over left fielder Jerry Sands — subbing for the ejected Melky Cabrera (arguing balls and strikes) in left field — for a game tying double.
The Sox regained the lead in the ninth on Austin Jackson’s safety squeeze bunt scoring Avisail Garcia but the Rangers tied it in the bottom of the ninth against Robertson on Hanser Alberto’s RBI single. Robertson was 10 for 11 in save opportunities with a 0.68 ERA, and Jones owned a 0.64 ERA.
Dan Jennings (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings and escaped a first and third situation with one out in the 10th when second baseman Brett Lawrie started a double play instead of throwing home.
The Sox need a fifth starter, and that kind of outing from Gonzalez would more than fill the bill. He threw 72 pitches, allowed three hits and three walks and struck out four.
“He has the quality pitches and has the stuff to get big-league hitters out,” said Alex Avila, who caught Gonzalez after coming off the disabled list Monday. “He’s a guy who likes to pitch up in the strike zone with his fastball and counter that with a curveball and a split-finger, so as long as he’s able to locate and throw strikes with his offspeed pitches, it will make his fastball more effective.”
“The key for me tonight was throwing the first pitch for strike one,’’ Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez gave up five runs on 11 hits with six strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in his first spot start at Toronto April 25. The Sox brought him up a second time Monday from AAA Charlotte, where he was 1-0 with a 2.65 ERA and 18 strikeouts over four starts and 17 innings with the Knights.
“We know he has been a quality pitcher,” Avila said.
The Sox are among several teams with interest in free agent Tim Lincecum, but if they view his price tag as too steep for what they’d be getting in return they can give Gonzalez more looks or look to AAA Charlotte right-hander Jacob Turner.
Or maybe Gonzalez will fill the bill and make it easy on general manager Rick Hahn.
Frazier also homered in the sixth, and finished with four hits and a career high six RBI.
