The Rangers and White Sox continued game two of a three-game series on Saturday evening. After dropping the first game, Texas sent another workhorse in Lance Lynn to rebound. The Sox sent out veteran Odrisamer Despaigne. Saturday night’s contest was an ole classic see-saw affair which the “saw” came out on top.

Before the game, I asked Chris Woodward if the conditions would cause Lance Lynn to change his approach tonight. “He limits hard contact anyways, so it’s not as big of a deal for him. He does have a really good two seamer, so I don’t necessarily think he’ll go just two seamer, but he does have that availability.” Woody added, “He does have the luxury of having a two seamer that pretty much can get a ground ball anytime he wants. Staying unpredictable in his pitches. ”

The White Sox started strong out of the gate, ending Lance Lynn’s streak of eight straight quality starts. Tim Anderson delivered a three-run double in the first to right center followed by an RBI double by Yolmer Sanchez. It was a work-heavy thirty-three pitch first inning for Lynn. The Rangers quickly responded with another Nomar Mazara two-run blast in the bottom of the inning. Logan Forsythe added a run on a double, scoring Willie Calhoun.

Nomar Upper-Deck Mazara. pic.twitter.com/g5QJFoq6sK

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) June 23, 2019

Mazara added an encore in the third inning with another blast to right center, tying the game at four. The White Sox broke the tie in the top of the sixth inning with a Tim Anderson shot to dead center field. The Rangers answered quickly and took the lead in the sixth with RBIs from Choo and DeShields.

I asked Chris Woodward after the game on the change in Nomar Mazara and the results that are transpiring the past few games.  “When his sequencing and timing is on, he can hit them farther than anybody can and harder than anybody can hit them. But he has to challenge himself to do [consistency] on a daily basis. He’s syncing up early, if he is on time and he is not in a hurry.” Woody added, “Before, I felt like he was on time and early, but he was rushing to the ball which was causing him to chase some pitches down in the dirt or chasing pitches out. Right now I feel like he’s in a more calmer state of mind where he is on time and he is actually got the ability to swing where he wants to. If he does that, he’s as dangerous as it gets.”

Despite a rocky first inning, Lance Lynn rallied to go seven innings, six hits, five runs, six strikeouts, and one walk. His one walk was on a four-pitch walk with all four pitches away from Jose Abreu. At the time, the White Sox had second and third and one out. Therefore, the plan likely was pitching around Abreu. In all five starts in June, Lance walked one or no batters in all five of those starts.

Asked Rangers SP Lance Lynn if it helped his competitiveness when his team scored 3 in the bottom of first after he gave up 4.

“If you’re going to fold, you shouldn’t be playing this damn game.” @dmn_rangers pic.twitter.com/loM0PeKSwJ

— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) June 23, 2019

The White Sox starter, Odrisamer Despaigne, struggled out of the gate. However, he only went three innings for Chicago and relinquished a 4-0 lead. The Rangers struggled against Osich but were able to get a hold of Evan Marshall. Marshall came into Saturday night’s contest not allowing a run on the season. The Rangers tagged Marshall for two runs, four hits, and a walk in the fifth inning.

Both the Rangers and White Sox defensively came to play, for most of the game. Between the second and third innings, the Rangers made four straight fantastic plays, two from Elvis Andrus, a nice pick by Forsythe, and a sliding catch into the corner by Mazara. Willie Calhoun had an adventurous time in left field. After a fan possibly denied a chance in the fifth, Calhoun made a fantastic play in the stands in the seventh.

"I'll see your crazy sliding catch against the wall in right field and raise you a catch up against the railing in left field."

–@11WillieCalhoun to @NomarMzra26#TogetherWe | @Rangers pic.twitter.com/XM6oTLDsmG

— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) June 23, 2019

The White Sox made three critical relay throws. One that nabbed Asdrubal Cabrera at home plate (Rangers challenged, and the review stood), one to tag out Willie Calhoun in the third, and one at home plate to get Jeff Mathis. Tim Anderson did commit an error in the seventh inning.

The Rangers conclude a seven-game home stand, and the series, with the White Sox tomorrow at 2:05 PM. Adrian Sampson (5-4, 4.40 ERA) will look to bounce back after two tough starts. The White Sox will counter with veteran Ivan Nova (3-5, 6.01 ERA). 

You're not going to believe this, but Maz has homered again! pic.twitter.com/DCOCNoPCkj

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) June 23, 2019