Desmond homers, plays infield, Texas loses in 11th to Chisox
CHICAGO (AP) — Ian Desmond made it back into the infield, at least for a couple of batters.
Desmond was Washington's starting shortstop for six seasons before joining Texas this year and becoming an outfielder. But when the Rangers needed an extra infielder after the White Sox loaded the bases with no outs in the 11th inning Saturday, he got the call.
Desmond wasn't there long. Moments after Texas shifted to a five-man infield, Jose Abreu hit an RBI single that lifted Chicago to a 4-3 win.
Before that, Desmond homered and drew three walks.
"Those games are the easy ones to lose because you play and it's just a great baseball game," Desmond said. "That game is why we all play the game. It was fun, it was exciting, it was intense."
Desmond scored in the ninth on Elvis Andrus' sacrifice fly over David Robertson, tying it at 3.
In the 11th, Nick Martinez (0-1) walked Dioner Navarro on four pitches, hit Austin Jackson and then walked Adam Eaton to load the bases.
Desmond initially stayed in left field when third baseman Adrian Beltre waved him in. Once the entire infield started waving, Desmond quickly ran in and got an infielder's glove.
Jimmy Rollins hit a grounder to Andrus at shortstop that resulted in a forceout at the plate. Abreu also hit a grounder, but it got past Beltre.
Colby Lewis gave up one run in six innings. He struck out three and walked four for Texas.
Matt Albers (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning.
Todd Frazier hit a tying home run in the Chicago eighth. He almost connected again for a game-winner in the ninth, but right fielder Nomar Mazara reached above the wall to catch Frazier's drive.
"That's a great character builder for a ballclub that's going to continue to battle and fight through games," Texas manager Jeff Banister said. "If you were a fan today and you walk away unsatisfied, you don't like baseball."
Down 2-1, the White Sox took the lead in the eighth. Frazier homered off Sam Dyson and Navarro hit a go-ahead single.
Melky Cabrera had three hits for the White Sox, including a home run.
White Sox starter Carlos Rodon left with two outs in the seventh, having allowed just two hits while striking out seven. Andrus greeted reliever Jake Petricka with a triple for 2-1 lead.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: On Friday, OF Josh Hamilton (knee soreness) had a double and two walks in four at-bats in his first appearance in extended spring training. He was expected to get 35 to 45 at-bats there. "It's about the legs and the body being ready to perform continually, not intermittently," Banister said. ... C Chris Gimenez (leg infection) went 2 for 5 with a double and caught for three innings in his extended spring debut.
UP NEXT
Texas LHP Derek Holland (2-0, 2.70) will oppose RHP Mat Latos (3-0, 0.49) in the series finale on Sunday.
Holland is 0-2 with 7.98 ERA in five games (three starts) vs. the White Sox. Latos is off to the best start in his eight-year career. He's given up one run and six hits in 18 1/3 innings.