ARLINGTON -- For a couple of innings of the White Sox 3-2 victory over the Rangers on Sunday afternoon at Global Life Park, Miguel Gonzalez was somewhat overcome by the intense heat.
But the veteran made the necessary adjustments to overcome Texas and give the South Siders a split in this four-game set.
Gonzalez, who turned in his first scoreless outing of 2017, had to pitch out of bases-loaded, one-out situations in both the second and third innings. In the latter frame, Gonzalez got Nomar Mazara to fly out to left field, and he then retired Joey Gallo on a popout to first base.
"Just didn't have that feel. In that second and third inning, I lost my feel," said Gonzalez, who struck out six and walked four over six scoreless innings. "I was just pushing the ball instead of just going through my catcher. Just one of those days you had to think through it and make adjustments while the game went on."
"He was running the ball, cutting the ball, working both sides of the plate, staying on the fringes," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "There were quite a few jam shots. Even the fly balls, I thought he had enough movement on them to keep them from squaring it up. His action kept him out of consequences, from them being able to actually stay on something longer and driving the ball."
Those adjustments clearly worked beyond his second- and third-inning escape acts. After Mike Napoli and Drew Robinson reached on singles to open the fourth, Gonzalez went on to retire the final nine Rangers he faced.
Over his last three starts, the right-hander has a 2-0 record with a 0.90 ERA. He has posted quality starts in three straight and six of his last seven since coming off the disabled list on July 14. Even the 97-degree game-time temperature couldn't slow him down Sunday.
"It wasn't easy," Gonzalez said. "I really tip my hat to those guys who pitch day games here. It's not easy. It's tough, but we got through it. I made my pitches after the fourth inning, and things went well. We got the 'W.'"