ARLINGTON -- Rangers reliever Alex Claudio began his night by giving up a three-run double to White Sox designated hitter Avisail Garcia in the fourth inning that left his team trailing by five runs.
The night ended with Claudio getting the win in the Rangers' 13-11 comeback victory and receiving a heap of praise from manager Jeff Banister for his 4 1/3 innings of unexpected long relief.
"To do what he did was phenomenal," Banister said. "He gave us the opportunity to do what we did."
The Rangers needed Claudio because of the early troubles of starter Derek Holland and reliever Anthony Ranaudo. The Rangers were mainly hoping that Claudio could give them innings and keep them from taxing other members of the bullpen.
Claudio did just that, holding the White Sox to one run. The 4 1/3 innings were a career high, and the reward came when the Rangers scored seven runs in the eighth to wipe out the White Sox 11-6 lead.
"I know we have a great team and we can score runs," Claudio said. "This is not the first time we've come back. I knew we could do it."
Holland allowed one run in two innings before the game was delayed for one hour and 18 minutes by rain. He couldn't find his rhythm upon his return and gave up four runs in the third while getting just one out.
It's the second straight start Holland has been unable to get through three innings. The last Rangers pitcher to do that was Brandon McCarthy in 2007.
Ranaudo was able to get the last two outs of the third, leaving the White Sox with a 5-2 lead. But, after Bryan Holaday tied it up with a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning, Ranaudo fell apart in the fourth.
He walked five of seven hitters, forcing in two runs and leaving the bases loaded with two outs for Claudio. Ranaudo is the first Rangers pitcher to walk five batters in an inning since starter Rich Harden on May 14, 2010, against the Blue Jays, and the first reliever since Mitch Williams on May 6, 1988, against the Yankees.
The Rangers may need another reliever for Wednesday's day game against the White Sox to reinforce their bullpen. Rookie Andrew Faulkner could be the likely candidate, with Ranaudo going back to Triple-A.
Claudio could be a candidate to go down, too, because he has options and threw 59 pitches on Tuesday.