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ARLINGTON, Texas -- The second inning began like it was going to be Chris Sale's downfall. Instead, it became a momentum-builder.

Sale was roughed up in the second stanza for four hits, including a home run. He also walked a batter.

Yet he escaped allowing only two runs.

Given new life, the left-hander with a mid-90s fastball breezed from there, shutting out the Texas Rangers over his final five innings in a 5-2 victory for the Chicago White Sox.

"The turning point was that second inning," Sale, who improved to 3-2 and lowered his ERA to 3.83, said. "Something I’ve had to learn is the game isn’t over in the second inning.

“I came out of that inning feeling strong mentally. I just kept pushing until the bullpen took over, and those guys kept it right where it was."

Some of the damage in the second inning came from the Rangers hitting good pitches.

"But a couple were bad pitches," Sale admitted.

Jeff Baker drove Sale’s low breaking ball over the left-field wall an estimated 393 feet to cut the White Sox lead to 2-1. A walk and singles by Geovany Soto and Craig Gentry loaded the bases. Ian Kinsler drilled a Sale pitch off the left-field wall, but due to a baserunning error by Soto, the Rangers produced only one score.

With a two-run lead gone and the bases loaded, Sale went to work. He struck out Elvis Andrus for the second out after a long battle and induced Lance Berkman into a fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop.

He went on to retire 10 Rangers in a row at one point.

"For him to come out of that inning only giving up two [runs] was big," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "That’s a tough lineup he was facing. He kept them off balance."

Sale allowed six hits but only one after the second inning. He walked two and struck out seven. He finished strong, too, pitching a 1-2-3 seventh with a pair of strikeouts.

Stopping the White Sox’s three-game losing streak was important to Sale.

"When you want to stop a streak, it’s important to go out and do everything you can to get a win," he said. "That’s what I did."

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Closer Addison Reed said he was trying to pitch A.J. Pierzynski inside, but he was not trying to intentionally hit his former Chicago White Sox teammate known for outspoken ways.

"I was trying to throw inside and it happened to hit him," said Reed, who worked a scoreless ninth for his ninth save. "Was I trying to hit him? Absolutely not."

Reed said he enjoyed throwing to Pierzynski when he was the White Sox catcher.

"I grew up a Sox fan rooting for him," Reed said. "I have nothing at all against him."

Pierzynski, signed by the Texas Rangers in the offseason, was used as a pinch hitter with two outs and nobody on in the ninth with the White Sox leading 5-2. Reed’s pitch hit Pierzynski in the elbow.

With a three-run lead against the powerful Rangers lineup, White Sox manager Robin Ventura explained, "We’re not trying to put anybody on base."

"You saw what happened," he said. "Thirty seconds later, they had the tying run at the plate. There was no message sent."

Reed said there was no conversation between himself and Pierzynski after the incident.

"I didn’t hear anything," Reed said. "I had other things on my mind."

In the Rangers clubhouse, Pierzynski said he wasn’t aware of any problems with Reed.

"Not that I know of," Pierzynski said. "I always got along fine with him."

Ian Kinsler singled after Pierzynski was hit. But Reed struck out Elvis Andrus, representing the tying run, with two on to complete his ninth save of the season. Reed has converted 15 straight save opportunities dating back to the 2012 season.

Together with Jesse Crain and Matt Thornton, the White Sox bullpen did not allow a run. Coming into the game, the bullpen had been tagged for a 7.43 ERA and an 0-4 record over the preceding eight games.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Chicago White Sox used a pair of seventh-inning homers to even the three-game series at a game apiece with a 5-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night before 34,677 at Rangers Ballpark.

How it happened: Conor Gillaspie launched a home run over the right-field wall an estimated 384 feet to snap a 2-2 tie leading off the seventh. Two outs later Alejandro De Aza lined a two-run shot into the seats near the right-field foul pole, at 353 feet. The White Sox have homered in 10 straight games. Alex Rios staked the White Sox to a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI single, scoring De Aza, who doubled to open the game. Paul Konerko opened the second with a double and, after a Gillaspie single, scored on Tyler Flowers’ double-play ball to make it 2-0. The Rangers tied it in the bottom of the second on a Jeff Baker home run and Ian Kinsler’s RBI single.

What it means: The White Sox ended a three-game losing streak with much improved play over the previous night’s 10-6 loss to Texas. For the second straight game, the White Sox couldn’t hold an early 2-0 lead. But Chris Sale kept middle-inning relief from becoming a factor by pitching seven innings. The bullpen, struggling with a 7.43 ERA in the last eight games, got the job done ... but not without an anxious moment or two. The first two Rangers that Jesse Crain faced in the eighth singled. But he worked out of trouble with final-out help from Matt Thornton. Addison Reed, who converted his 15th straight save, stirred the pot by hitting pinch hitter A.J. Pierzynski with two out in the ninth, followed by a single by Kinsler. But Reed ended it with a strikeout.

Outside the box: What is it about Sale and the American League West? With his win over the Rangers, Sale is now 8-0 against the West. He came into the game with an ERA of 3.18 in games against the West, with 69 strikeouts in 68 innings. Sale allowed only two Rangers to reach base in the final five innings of a strong seven-inning start. Once handed a three-run lead, Sale finished his night with a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, striking out two and fanning Kinsler on his 110th pitch. Sale held the hot Texas bats to six hits while striking out seven.

Offbeat: The White Sox caught a break in the second inning, when Kinsler’s line drive off the left-field wall with the bases loaded scored only one Rangers run. Credit left fielder De Aza’s quick recovery. Also credit some questionable base running. Geovany Soto, at second base, didn’t appear to get a good read on the ball. Craig Gentry, the runner at first, ran up on Soto and was only a few feet behind when touching second. Soto had to stop at third. Sale made it an important play by retiring the next two hitters to prevent further damage and keep the score 2-2.

Up next: Right-hander Jake Peavy (3-1), coming off a solid performance in a winning effort over the Tampa Bay Rays, will be opposed by Justin Grimm (2-0) in the conclusion of the three-game series with Texas in a 7:05 p.m. start Thursday at Rangers Ballpark. The forecast calls for a game-time temperature of 50 degrees after a cold front passes.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Second baseman Jeff Keppinger returns to the Chicago White Sox lineup for Wednesday's game against the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark.

Keppinger missed the last four games with a back injury.

Fresh off a 4-for-4 performance in Tuesday's 10-6 loss to Texas in the series opener Tuesday, Dewayne Wise gets his second consecutive start in center field. Jordan Danks remains hampered by fluid in his injured knee.

Former Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski is not in the Texas lineup for the second consecutive game because of a strained oblique. Rangers manager Ron Washington said he expects Pierzynski to play in Thursday's 7:05 p.m. series finale.

Tonight's lineups:
White Sox (10-15)
1. Alejandro DeAza, LF
2. Jeff Keppinger, 2B
3. Alex Rios, RF
4. Adam Dunn, DH
5. Paul Konerko, 1B
6. Conor Gillaspie, 3B
7. Alexei Ramirez, SS
8. Tyler Flowers, C
9. Dewayne Wise, CF
SP Chris Sale

Rangers (17-9)
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Elvis Andrus, SS
3. Lance Berkman, DH
4. Adrian Beltre, 3B
5. Nelson Cruz, RF
6. Jeff Baker, LF
7. Mitch Moreland, 1B
8. Geovany Soto, C
9. Craig Gentry, CF
SP Nick Tepesch

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Chicago White Sox optioned left-handed reliever Donnie Veal to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday and recalled right-handed reliever Brian Omogrosso.

Omogrosso, 29, joined the Sox before Wednesday night's game against the Texas Rangers. He learned of his promotion at 1 a.m. and was in the visitors clubhouse in Arlington 12 hours later.

In 17 relief outings with the White Sox as a rookie in 2012, Omogrosso had a 2.57 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 17 innings. He allowed only one earned run in his final seven appearances, a span of nine innings.

With Charlotte this season, Omogrosso is 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA with nine strikeouts in seven 9.2 innings.

"I was nervous last year with it being my first time up," the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder said. "It helps to have another year of experience and knowing the guys more. You play your whole life for this opportunity."

White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Veal had "things he needed to work on," but the team doesn’t have the luxury to wait for development.

Veal, 28, was 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA in 6 1/3 innings and one hold in 12 relief appearances.

Veal was brought in to face left-handed hitting Mitch Moreland but was touched for an RBI double, the first of six Texas runs in the sixth inning of a 10-6 White Sox loss Tuesday.

Ventura said that after this move, the White Sox will be less likely to call on a reliever to work just one batter with fewer left-handers in the bullpen.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dewayne Wise wasn’t even in the Chicago White Sox starting lineup on Tuesday. That’s nothing new. Wise drew on four starts in the Sox first 24 games this season.

But fate intervened. Jordan Danks, penciled in as the starting center fielder, was limping around the clubhouse before the game with an injured right knee.

A little more than two hours before game time, a new lineup was produced. Danks was scratched, replaced by Wise in center field and as the ninth hitter in the order.

The rest, as they say, is history. Wise matched a career-high with four hits to become the White Sox's bright spot in a 10-6 loss to Texas at Rangers Ballpark. The 35-year-old, 10-year veteran came into the game hitting .095 in only 22 at-bats. (“It’s hard to say I’m struggling with only 22 at-bats.’’) Three hours and 16 minutes later, his batting average climbed to .231.

Three of his hits, including a game-tying two-run home run in the sixth inning, came off Yu Darvish.

Obviously, two hours was plenty of time for Wise to prepare.

“I do the same things to get ready as I’d do for any other day,’’ Wise said. “I’m cool with it.’’

Wise had singles in the second and fourth innings. In the sixth, with a runner on and two out, Wise timed a Darvish off-speed pitch and sent it into the right-field seats to tie the score at four.

“He used that pitch against a lot of guys tonight,’’ Wise said. “I read it when I saw it come out of his hand.’’

In his last plate appearance in the eighth, Wise doubled to left off Rangers reliever Michael Kirkman, a left-hander.

Defensively, Wise covered a lot of ground to chase down a couple of long fly balls off the bat of Jeff Baker.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura took note: “It was good to see,’’ Ventura said.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- When newly-acquired corner outfielder Casper Wells joined the Chicago White Sox before Tuesday’s series opener against the Texas Rangers, he donned the uniform of his fourth major league team this spring.
Four teams, all in the American League, in the space of five weeks.

“It is a record?’’ Wells said. “I don’t know.

“I’d like to say I’m getting used to it. I’ve met a lot of teammates,’’ said Wells, who is good-natured about his travels. “But I know I’m capable of playing at this level. It’s not like I’m a rookie. Every day, it is important for me to just bring it.’’

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ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Chicago White Sox bullpen surrendered six runs in the sixth inning of a 10-6 loss to the Texas Rangers Tuesday night.

How it happened: Left-handed reliever Donnie Veal was brought in by White Sox manager Robin Ventura to face left-handed hitting Mitch Moreland with a runner on first in the sixth inning of a 4-4 tie. Moreland lined a pitch over the head of left fielder Alejandro De Aza, who was playing shallow and didn’t seem to take the best angle. Geovany Soto scored easily on the double for a 5-4 lead. Ian Kinsler singled off the third reliever of the inning, Nate Jones, scoring Moreland with the sixth Texas run. Then, it turned ugly. Back-to-back wild pitches by Jones enabled a couple of more runs. Adrian Beltre finished off the six-run outburst with a two-run home run and Texas would have all the scoring it would need.

What it means: The White Sox dropped their third straight game in the opener of an eight-game, three-city road trip. After getting off to a quick 2-0 lead against Yu Darvish and then fighting back to overcome a two-run deficit in the sixth, the White Sox bullpen faltered. It is the continuation of a trend. The bullpen was 0-3 with a 6.08 ERA in seven preceding games after performing well (3-3, 1.63) in its first 17 games.

Outside the box: Shortstop Alexei Ramirez had very little reaction time, but that didn’t keep him from making a brilliant defensive play to turn away an early Rangers threat. Ramirez lunged to his left to glove a scalding one-hopper off the bat of Soto and turned it into an easy double play that ended the second inning.

Offbeat: Dewayne Wise was not in the original starting lineup. But when starting center fielder Jordan Danks came up hobbled with an inflamed bursa sac behind his right knee, Wise was inserted in the ninth spot in the order. Wise made the most of his opportunity, matching a career high in hits in a game with four. Wise had singles in his first two trips, followed by a game-tying two-run home run in the sixth, all off Darvish. Wise finished his big night with a double in the eighth. Wise’s home run extended the White Sox streak to nine games in which they have homered.

Up next: Left-hander Chris Sale (2-2), coming off a strong outing in a 5-2 win over Tampa Bay, will go against Nick Tepesch (2-1) Wednesday in a 7:05 p.m. start at Rangers Ballpark.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Chicago White Sox centerfielder Jordan Danks was scratched two hours before the series opener against the Texas Rangers due to a bursa sac inflammation behind the right knee.

Dewayne Wise will spell Danks, a native Texan, in centerfield and bat ninth.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Danks’ injury wasn’t serious.

“It was one of those decisions that we’d rather have him available off the bench than start him and have to take him out after a couple of innings,’’ the manager said.

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ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine takes your Cubs and White Sox questions during a live chat at noon CT Tuesday. Click here to submit your questions.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox's need to pay cash for a backup outfielder Monday brings to light all of the issues that have continued to torment highly-regarded prospect Jared Mitchell.

The former first-round draft pick, whom the White Sox continue to hold in high regard, can't seem to catch a break and the White Sox's acquisition of Casper Wells from the Oakland Athletics on Monday only seems to highlight that.

The early-season injury to Dayan Viciedo, and the fact that the team started the season with only four outfielders, has brought the White Sox's major-league ready depth into focus. On the lower levels, the White Sox have some of the most impressive outfield talent around, but when it comes to players who can jump into the major leagues now, it isn't nearly as strong.

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CHICAGO -- Four weeks into the regular season with a brand new team and already things seem to be as normal as they can be on Planet Pierzynski.

Former Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski has been getting along swimmingly with his new Texas Rangers teammates. He nearly caught a perfect game during the first week of the season, he's already been back to Chicago in a series against the Cubs and recently had the occasion to torment the Los Angeles Angels yet again with a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning.

Next comes the most awkward stage, when he plays against the White Sox in a three-game series that begins Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.

White Sox pitcher John Danks seemed to regret the fact that he won't be there as he heads out to Birmingham, Ala., on a minor-league rehab assignment this week. But the injured pitcher and native Texan already got a chance to check out his former teammate play in person.

"I saw him the opening night when they were playing in Houston," Danks said. "It was weird seeing him back there. Obviously we all know A.J. and how good of a player he was. It was fun to watch him, and kinda weird to not see him in a White Sox uniform."

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CHICAGO -- Following today’s game versus the Tampa Bay Rays, the Chicago White Sox optioned outfielder Blake Tekotte to Triple-A Charlotte.

Tekotte, 25, appeared in three games (one start) with the White Sox this season after being recalled from Charlotte on April 20, going 0-2 with a walk.

The White Sox will make a corresponding roster move prior to Tuesday night’s game at Texas.

CHICAGO -- The lone bright spot on an otherwise tough day for the White Sox was a Paul Konerko drive that inched him up a pair of home-run lists.

Konerko’s two-run home run in the third inning off Tampa Bay Rays starter David Price was the 426th of his career, tying him with Billy Williams for 45th on the all-time list. He is also just 29 home runs behind Frank Thomas on the White Sox’s all-time list.

In typical Konerko fashion, he was less worried about his place in history and more concerned about the game that had just been played and the next one in front of him.

“It’s cool, I guess,” Konerko said about matching Williams. “I don’t think too much about it. Right now, I’m one of those guys trying to find a feel. I feel good in one at-bat and the other at-bat it might go away.”

Against Price, Konerko is now 10-for-20 (.500) lifetime with two home runs and six RBIs. The long ball also ended his 65 at-bat homerless streak at U.S. Cellular Field. His last one came Sept. 25 of last season against the Cleveland Indians.

“Facing some good pitching, you just have to strap it on,” Konerko said. “So I’m not thinking too much about [home-run lists] because I know the guy on the mound doesn’t give a [expletive]. So I can’t, either, and I wouldn’t either way. They’re trying to get me out. As long as that’s happening, I have to be focused in.”

CHICAGO -- While the bullpen strains under the weight it is being asked to carry and the defense continues to provide more assistance to the opposing offense, the Chicago White Sox continue to drift aimlessly.

Another loss by a reliever was combined with two more White Sox errors that led to an 8-3 defeat by the Tampa Bay Rays and a 3-5 homestand that followed a 3-7 road trip.

Making it that much worse is that the White Sox need to step up their game in the wake of so many April injuries, not regress in areas that were a supposed strength.

The bullpen is still top-notch, but a lack of run support has left it pitching in tight games each and every night, and things haven’t always gone the Sox's way in such circumstances. Nate Jones was tagged with the loss Sunday, the bullpen’s sixth loss this season. Only the Toronto Blue Jays and their eight bullpen defeats have more in the American League.

“We’re looking at what you have here and what’s available, and you go from there,” manager Robin Ventura said. “You try to win games right now not waiting and looking in the future. Guys are playing hard and this is one of those that is probably a work in progress of trying to figure that out and who’s playing and who’s doing what. But again, you try to make due and make sure everybody is giving a constant effort. That’s all you can ask.”

Ultimately, it all goes back to that ineffective offense. Adam Dunn, whose struggles have been mighty in the early going, continued to show signs of life with a first-inning RBI single. Team leader Paul Konerko added a two-run home run.

Everybody else, though, was an easy target for Rays starter David Price, who snapped a streak of five starts without a victory. His last truimph came Sept. 30 of last season, against the White Sox.

The White Sox have already used the disabled list six times in the first 24 games, an extreme worst-case scenario for a club that lacks not only roster depth but in potential breakthrough prospects at the minor league level.

Tyler Green (second base), Conor Gillaspie (third base) and Dewayne Wise (center field) all filled in for injured players Sunday and were a combined 1-for-10.

“I don’t sense anybody looking around saying we can’t win with what we have,” Konerko said. “I think the only time you think about those guys is when you see them. I think every team is going to have that little span during the season where it seems like every day somebody’s going down. Hopefully, this is ours right now and we start getting guys back and we’re kind of over that and it’s done with and some other team’s going to have to deal with that in August or September, maybe.”