After making their third foray into first place, the White Sox like where they are. And they plan to stick around for a while.
“The third time should be the charm,” Jose Valentin said. “We don’t want to give up that lead anymore.”
Of course they don’t. But this time, the schedule is on their side.
After completing a three-game sweep of Anaheim on Wednesday night with a 5-3 victory, the Sox host a sizzling Texas team that has won eight straight games.
Three came against the Sox last weekend in Texas. “We owe something to them,” Valentin said.
Revenge aside, the difference in this series should be simple. The Sox might be a dreadful road team, but they’re 40-22 at U.S. Cellular Field.
A night after manufacturing their five runs, the Sox flexed their muscles against Angels starter John Lackey & Co. before a crowd of just 17,879. Valentin, Magglio Ordonez and Carl Everett all hit home runs.
Valentin, though, was more interested in talking about leadoff man Roberto Alomar, who reached base his first four times to the plate on infield singles.
“It’s nice to see a guy who has those skills to go along with his brains,” Valentin said. “That’s what a leadoff hitter is supposed to be.”
And Esteban Loaiza, who is tied for the AL lead with Toronto’s Roy Halladay with 16 wins, is what a staff ace looks like.
Loaiza struggled early, allowing five of the first seven batters he faced to reach base. But the turning point came in the third after Chone Figgins led off with a triple. Loaiza struck out Jeff DaVanon, froze Garret Anderson on a fastball on the outside corner and whiffed Tim Salmon on a slider.
“He took it up a notch,” Manuel said. “He rose to the occasion.”
The Sox jumped into a virtual tie with Kansas City in the American League Central after the Royals lost to the Yankees to complete a three-game sweep. The Twins, just a half-game out, play host to Kansas City in a four-game set starting Thursday.
Manager Jerry Manuel tried to keep the focus on his own team.
“We have Bartolo [Colon] going [Thursday],” Manuel said. “And we know he’s due to have a good one.”
Rangers at White Sox
Season series: Rangers lead 3-0.
Thursday: Colby Lewis (6-7, 7.57 ERA) vs. Bartolo Colon (10-11, 4.25). 7:05 p.m.; Fox Sports Net, WMVP-AM 1000
Friday: Juan Dominguez (0-1, 8.31) vs. Neal Cotts (0-0, 6.75). 7:05 p.m.; Fox Sports Net, WMVP-AM 1000
Saturday: Ismael Valdes (7-7, 5.97) vs. Mark Buehrle (10-12, 4.14). 6:05 p.m.; WGN-Ch. 9, WMVP-AM 1000
Sunday: John Thomson (11-10, 5.21) vs. Jon Garland (9-9, 4.47). 1:05 p.m.; Fox Sports Net, WMVP-AM 1000
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Edited by Phillip Thompson (plthompson@tribune.com) and Drew Sottardi
(dsottardi@tribune.com)
