Gallo makes franchise history in second game
ARLINGTON, Texas — One night after making a splashy major league debut, Joey Gallo made Texas Rangers franchise history.
Gallo, a Bishop Gorman High product, became the first player in club history to homer in his first two games when he hit a solo shot 411 feet into the upper porch at Globe Life Park in the ninth inning on Tuesday night.
The only down side for one of baseball’s top prospects was that the homer came in a 9-2 loss to Chris Sale and the Chicago White Sox.
Well, there also was that matter of the blast coming after Gallo had struck out swinging in his first three at-bats against Sale.
But when Chicago went to another lefty in Zach Duke in the ninth, Gallo didn’t miss on a one-ball pitch.
“It was a great learning experience,” Gallo said of facing Sale. “It’s not fun to do. I want to help this team win, but he was on tonight and I’ve never seen stuff like that from the left side.
“Next time I feel like I’ll have a better chance. I thought my at-bats were getting progressively better throughout.”
Struggling against the left-handed Sale was nothing for Gallo to be embarrassed about. Sale is in the kind of groove that is giving teams fits.
He struck out a season-high 13 in seven shutout innings.
“Any time you go out there and you feel like you get in a rhythm,” Sale said, “that’s all pitching really is, is finding a groove, getting in a rhythm, just trying to, I wouldn’t say be comfortable, but find the groove and ride it as long as you can. They don’t last forever.”
Sale (5-2) posted his 22nd career game with double-figure strikeouts, extending his franchise record. He allowed three hits and two walks in 112 pitches, and he fanned at least 10 for the third game in a row, a career high.
Chicago (24-27) rebounded from a 15-2 drubbing in the series opener Tuesday in which Gallo debuted with a homer, double, single and four RBIs.
Sale got stronger as the game wore on. He didn’t allow a hit or baserunner after the third inning.
“He was fantastic,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “The pitch count, he was up a little bit early, he settled in somewhat and at least got to the seventh.”
The White Sox also got a boost from Jose Abreu, who returned to the lineup as the designated hitter and drove in three runs.
Abreu missed the previous three games with an inflamed right index finger, and even though he wasn’t back at first base, he brought his bat. The 2014 All-Star went 2-for-4 and drilled his ninth home run.
“It’s nice for us to get Jose back in there,” Ventura said. “Our lineup is a lot different with him in there.”
The White Sox racked up 12 hits, with eight starters getting at least one. Catcher Tyler Flowers had three hits, including a two-run homer in the seventh.
Texas (27-26) saw its four-game winning streak end. The Rangers were without two of their power hitters, first baseman Prince Fielder, who was rested, and outfielder Josh Hamilton, who has a left hamstring injury.
After the game, the Rangers announced that Hamilton would miss up with four weeks with a Grade 2 strain. He said the hamstring had been bothersome and he felt it give after running the bases Sunday on a walk-off double against the Boston Red Sox.
