Rangers recap: Moreland comes up clutch in ninth-inning comeback win

The Texas Rangers scored twice in the top of the ninth to swipe the series opener 2-1 against the Chicago White Sox Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

Pitching: Colby Lewis nearly had his excellent start overshadowed by Chris Sale’s masterpiece. Both went eight innings but Lewis was on the hook for the loss despite allowing one run on a solo homer in the fifth by Tyler Flowers. Lewis allowed nine hits and walked none while striking out seven. After the Rangers took the lead with two runs in the top of the ninth, Shawn Tolleson pitched the bottom of the inning to secure the victory with his tenth save. He struck out

Hitting: Sale kept the Rangers bats tied in knots for eight innings, striking out 14 and allowing just two hits and no walks. Hanser Alberto broke up Sale’s no-hitter with a single to center field with two outs in the sixth. Prince Fielder singled to center with two outs in the seventh. Both times Sale shut it down with a strikeout to end the inning. He forced a pop out to second with two runners on to end the game.

In the ninth, Shin-Soo Choo worked a one-out walk against reliever David Robertson before Elvis Andrus singled to center. Chicago intentionally walked Fielder to load the bases. Mitch Moreland pinch-hit for Adam Rosales and came through with a two-run, go-ahead single to right.

Notable: Sale became the third pitcher in history to strikeout 12 or more batters in five consecutive games with 14 against the Rangers. He joins Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez.

This story was originally published June 19, 2015 at 9:37 PM with the headline "Rangers recap: Moreland comes up clutch in ninth-inning comeback win."