Chicago @ Texas preview
Choctaw Stadium
Last Meeting ( Apr 28, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 5, Texas 6
Before the season started, the Texas Rangers gave Scott Feldman a $13.925 million contract extension through 2012 with a club option for 2013. Feldman earned that contract from his strong season last year, when he rattled off 17 wins after moving into Texas’ rotation on April 25.
And that’s the type of season the Rangers are hoping for out of Feldman this year. Although he has struggled in his last two starts, Feldman will look to rebound on Thursday afternoon, as he takes the hill for the series finale against the Chicago White Sox and right-hander Gavin Floyd.
The Rangers are looking for their first sweep of the season, while the White Sox are trying to avoid their second.
Feldman has pitched less than five innings in his last two starts. On Saturday against Detroit, Feldman took the loss after the team staked him to a four-run lead. He gave up three runs in the third and, in what proved to be the pivotal fourth inning, he allowed five runs with two outs.
Against the Yankees on April 17, Feldman went only 2 1/3 innings and allowed four runs (all earned) on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
For Feldman to be successful, he will need to have his sinker working effectively. Feldman has become a front-line starter by getting batters to groundout, and has also been developing a changeup to use as a strikeout pitch.
In seven career games, including two starts, against the South Siders, Feldman is 1-1 with a 4.11 ERA.
Texas’ offense came through in the first inning during Wednesday’s victory. The Rangers put up a 5-spot with a two-run home run from Josh Hamilton, a two-run single from Joaquin Arias and an RBI single from Julio Borbon.
For the White Sox, it doesn’t appear too promising with Floyd on the mound. He has struggled mightily in the past at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, going 0-1 with a 9.35 ERA in two career starts. In his last start, July 11, 2008, Floyd lasted only 2 2/3 innings and allowed six earned runs.
Regardless, the South Siders also have to produce more offensively. They scored no runs in seven of the nine innings and grounded into four double plays on Wednesday. In fact, Juan Pierre grounded into two double plays for the first time in his career.
The only bright spots for Chicago came in the sixth and ninth inning. In the sixth, Carlos Quentin blasted a three-run home run into the Rangers’ bullpen in right-centerfield. Then, in the ninth, A.J. Pierzynski had an RBI double.
With the loss, the White Sox dropped to 2-7 on the road this season. And they’re looking to avoid beginning this six-game road trip 0-3.