Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Tyler Flowers finished a double shy of the
cycle and drove in three runs as the White Sox earned a 5-3 win over the
Rangers in a rain-shortened series opener in Chicago.
The game was played through a persistent rain until finally being called after
the top of the seventh inning.
Hector Noesi (6-8) went all seven frames and earned his first career complete
game against his former team, which waived him back in April.
Nick Martinez (1-8) remained winless since May after allowing five runs on
eight hits and three walks over five-plus innings.
"The rain didn't affect me at all," Martinez said. "This is a game of
adversity. You have to be able to deal with adversity to pitch at this level."
Rougned Odor hit a two-run homer for the Rangers and Adrian Beltre drove in a
run and nearly went deep in the fifth inning.
Adam Eaton brought back Beltre's potential homer, however, with a perfectly-
timed leaping grab at the center-field wall, and Flowers led off the bottom
half with a game-tying solo blast.
"(Martinez) left a slider up in the zone," Flowers said. "I was just trying to
put it in play."
Flowers stepped in with runners on second and third in the sixth and laced a
base hit to center to bring in both runners for a 5-3 Chicago lead, and Texas
was dealt a fourth straight loss when play was halted after a lengthy delay.
Beltre singled in Elvis Andrus in the Rangers' first at-bat, and Odor went
deep in the second after a Noesi error extended the inning.
Jose Abreu drove in two runs with a single to center in the third. Flowers
tripled off the top of the right-field wall while Eaton and Alexei Ramirez
both earned walks prior to the rookie knocking in his 85th and 86th runs.
Game Notes
Noesi struck out six and allowed four hits, three walks and three runs -- one
earned ... Eaton extended his hitting streak to 11 games ... White Sox left
fielder Alejandro De Aza left the game due to an injured knee ... Texas has
dropped seven in a row on the road ... Noesi is 0-7 in 10 starts since winning
his only decision on May 24 ... Chicago is 8-1 in its last nine home games vs.
Texas.