Josh Smith homers and scores all 3 runs for the Texas Rangers in a 3-1 win over the White Sox

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Josh Smith homered and scored all three Texas runs in his fifth consecutive two-hit game to help the Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 on Friday night.

The leadoff hitter had a single in the first and scored on Corey Seager’s sacrifice fly. Smith’s seventh homer was a 396-foot drive to right-center in the third, then he walked ahead of Marcus Semien’s RBI double that made it 3-0 in the fifth.

Smith was 2 for 3 with a walk and is hitting .435 (10 for 23) during a career-best streak of five multihit games.

Jacob Webb (4-3), the second of seven pitchers in a bullpen game for the Rangers, worked two innings for the victory as they won for the fifth time in six games. Robert Garcia loaded the bases in the ninth before closing out his fifth save in seven chances.

White Sox starter Adrian Houser (2-2) allowed three runs and six hits over five innings. He struck out two and walked four.

Texas Rangers’ Josh Smith runs the bases after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Shawn Armstrong started for Texas and struck out five while retiring all nine batters the first three innings. His season highs before Friday were seven batters faced and three strikeouts.

Luis Robert was the first White Sox hitter to reach base, on an infield single with two outs in the fifth when he was initially called out before a replay challenge. He also had an RBI double in the seventh.

Key moment

The White Sox had a run in and two on in the seventh when Texas reliever Chris Martin retired the only two batters he faced.

Key stat

Texas Rangers’ Corey Seager hits a sacrifice fly in front of Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel to score teammate Josh Smith during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Seager is 4 for 45 (.089) with 15 strikeouts in 13 games since returning from the injured list May 28. But he has drawn a walk in a career-best eight games in a row after two more free passes.

Up next

Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (6-2, 2.12 ERA) has allowed two runs over fewer in each of his last 10 starts The White Sox will use an opener Saturday, but didn’t say who that will be.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB