Palka's 2-run triple lifts White Sox to win

CHICAGO -- Nicky Delmonico's broken hand, sustained Friday night, put the White Sox in a bind. Regular starting right fielder Avisaíl García strained his right hamstring April 23, and Delmonico's absence only emphasizes the need for the other Chicago outfielders to contribute.
The White Sox gave Daniel Palka the first opportunity to do so Saturday night, with manager Rick Renteria slotting him into right and batting him fifth. Palka cashed in against the Rangers, driving home the go-ahead run in Chicago's 5-3 win at Guaranteed Rate Field with a two-run triple in the third.
"When I believe we have a matchup that suits him and gives him an opportunity to contribute, we'll do so," Renteria said. "He's working very hard to improve on his defense with [first base/outfield coach Daryl Boston]."

Palka finished the night 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk, before being replaced by Trayce Thompson in the eighth for defensive purposes.
That third inning was all the White Sox needed against Texas starter Ariel Jurado, who was making his MLB debut. After Omar Narváez led off with a double, four straight White Sox reached base with two outs. Yolmer Sánchez walked, followed by RBI singles from José Abreu and Matt Davidson, before Palka hit his second triple of the season.

"When you can win games like tonight, it's huge," said Abreu through interpreter Billy Russo, "because you are letting them know, the young guys, how it is to win games and how it is to compete and to play good baseball and to have confidence with the things that you're doing."
Abreu added an insurance home run in the seventh, taking reliever Kevin Jepsen deep for his eighth long ball of the season. The slugger went 3-for-3 and was a triple shy of the cycle, recording the 300th extra-base hit of his career in his 655th game. Only Frank Thomas (626 games) reached that total faster in White Sox history.

White Sox starter Lucas Giolito struggled in the opening innings, and then settled down. The Rangers scored two in the second and one in the third, but gave up just one hit over the succeeding three innings to protect the White Sox rally.
"We're huge on shutdown innings here," Giolito said. "That means if we score in one inning, then you go out there and get the other team back in the dugout to keep the momentum going. Once that happened I just locked in a little bit from there, me and [catcher Narvaez] were working really well together."

Chicago relievers Bruce Rondón, Jace Fry and Nate Jones combined for three scoreless innings to seal the win. The White Sox have now won multiple games in a homestand for the first time this season.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Large Fry: Fry, who has begun to see more usage in high-leverage situations, threw the eighth and recorded an out in the ninth. He retired all four batters he faced and has not allowed a hit in 7 1/3 innings this season.
"Having the success is awesome, but I realize it's the plan, the plan of attack," Fry said. "I'm going out and throwing strike one and getting ahead. Actually doing it, seeing it and having the process work definitely creates more confidence. Once you go back to the blueprint of baseball, strike one is everything."
"He's been very, very effective," Renteria added. "He's been commanding the strike zone very well. Confidently approaching his hitters. He's got pretty good stuff. He's going, as [pitching coach Don Cooper] says, from back to front a little bit better and he's able to command the zone."

RODON'S STRONG DEBUT
Carlos Rodón, who is working his way back from season-ending arthroscopic shoulder surgery last September that was expected to sideline him from six to eight months, had a strong opening injury rehab start for Class A Kannapolis on Saturday night. The southpaw allowed one run on three hits over five innings, striking out six and not issuing a walk against Hickory. Rodon threw 42 of his 65 pitches for strikes.
During his injury rehab assignment in '17, Rodon made one start for Class A Advanced Winston-Salem and three for Triple-A Charlotte. A similar routine this year would have Rodon ready around June 3, but no exact return timetable has been set.
"It's good to be back and playing some competitive baseball," Rodon told reporters after his start. "We worked heavy changeup getting them out front and mixed in some fastballs. Everything was working pretty good today."
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Though Giolito turned in a strong outing Saturday, he continued to issue several free passes. Giolito walked two Rangers batters and hit two more, bringing his season totals to 34 walks and nine hit batsmen. Those marks are tied for the Major League lead in each category.
HE SAID IT
"They're rookies, it's giving them the opportunity to play and to show what they can do, and the confidence for them to show their talent. We are all excited to see what they can do and how they can help us. I think that we all belong to this level and for us it's an exciting moment for what all these young guys can offer." -- Abreu, on young players like Palka and Giolito 

UP NEXT
The White Sox conclude their four-game set with the Rangers at 1:10 p.m. CT on Sunday. Reynaldo López (0-3, 3.50 ERA) toes the rubber for Chicago, looking to bounce back from his worst start of the year. Lopez gave up six runs in two innings in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Mike Minor (3-2, 5.61) will pitch for Texas.