White Sox 5, Rangers 2
Almost as soon as they started swinging a bat and throwing a ball, Jordan and John Danks started dreaming of games like this one.
Jordan Danks became the first major leaguer in nearly six decades to back his brother with a homer, connecting after he replaced the injured Avisail Garcia, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 5-2 on Sunday for their eighth win in nine games.
''We've played together probably since we were 5-years old,'' Jordan Danks said. ''That was the goal to one day play together in the big leagues and here we are. And I thought how cool it would be to hit a home run one day when he was pitching and sure enough it happened. It was very cool.''
John Danks (4-10) outpitched Matt Garza (3-2), allowing two runs over six innings for his second straight win, and the White Sox took two of three from the AL West leaders. Josh Phegley went deep after hitting the winning single in the ninth inning the previous night.
The recent run comes during an otherwise miserable season for Chicago. Seeing the promising Garcia slowly walking off the field prompted a few groans throughout the stadium.
Garcia crashed into the right-field fence while chasing a tying two-run homer by Jeff Baker that barely cleared the wall in the fourth.
Acquired from Detroit in last month's three-team deal that sent Jake Peavy to Boston, Garcia banged his head and shoulder. He stayed down for a few moments and was tended to by a trainer and manager Robin Ventura before walking gingerly off the field.
''It was more probably dehydration,'' Ventura said.
Jordan Danks replaced Garcia and gave the White Sox the lead with a solo drive to right in the bottom half. According to information supplied to the White Sox by the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time a player has supported his brother with a homer since the Kansas City Athletics' Billy Shantz did it for Bobby Shantz on June 3, 1955.
''We usually joke about it. He'll come up to me and ask if I've done anymore `brother' interviews,'' John Danks. ''It's something that we don't take for granted. We know how special it is that we get to play together.''
Third baseman Jeff Keppinger preserved the lead in the fifth when he lunged to snag Adrian Beltre's liner and stepped on the bag with runners on the corners to end the threat.
Adam Dunn made it 4-2 in the sixth with an RBI single after Alexei Ramirez doubled, and Phegley bumped the lead to three with his drive in the seventh after Matt Lindstrom escaped a bases-loaded jam.
Lindstrom got Beltre to hit into a double play after Ramirez booted Ian Kinsler's grounder to shortstop for his career-high 21st error.
''We had many chances, especially myself. I think this one's on me,'' Beltre said.
Nate Jones pitched a pitched a scoreless eighth and Addison Reed finished for his 35th save in 40 chances.
After pitching eight scoreless innings against Kansas City last week, John Danks gave up eight hits and struck out five while walking one against a potent Texas lineup.
Garza had another shaky outing for the Rangers, allowing five runs - four earned - and seven hits over seven innings. He's allowed at least four runs in five straight starts.
''I just felt a little out of sync, like I was trying to do too much,'' he said. ''You get ahead of yourself and sometimes you've just got to take a step back to put the whole thing in.''
NOTES: The Rangers held OF Leonys Martin out of the lineup after he sprained his right ankle the previous night. He was injured in a collision with left fielder David Murphy chasing Paul Konerko's fly to center and left that game, but he was optimistic he would be able to play Monday at Seattle. ... Rangers manager Ron Washington said RHP Yu Darvish was fine after experiencing cramps in his calves during the seventh inning the previous night. Washington attributed the symptoms to dehydration. ... Garcia struck out in his lone at-bat, bringing his 11-game hitting streak to an end. ... White Sox bench coach Mark Parent was ejected during the pregame lineup exchange by crew chief and second base umpire Jerry Layne. Ventura said there was a lingering issue from Saturday. ... The White Sox open a three-game series against Houston on Monday, with RHP Andre Rienzo (1-0, 3.56 ERA) starting for Chicago against LHP Brett Oberholtzer (3-1, 2.91 ERA). The Rangers are at Seattle, with LHP Travis Blackley (1-1, 4.85 ERA) going against Mariners LHP Joe Saunders (10-12, 4.91 ERA).