>>Frazier's Grand Slam Lifts White Sox Over Rangers
Todd Frazier hit a tiebreaking grand slam in the 12th inning for his second homer of the game, powering the Chicago White Sox to an 8-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night.
Frazier had four hits and a career-high six RBIs to help the White Sox win after the bullpen blew leads in the eighth and ninth innings despite a majors-leading 1.82 ERA coming in.
Last year's All-Star home run derby winner in front of the home crowd in Cincinnati, Frazier has 10 homers with Chicago after an offseason trade. His go-ahead blast to left came off left-hander Cesar Ramos (0-2).
Dan Jennings (1-0) pitched a scoreless 10th and 11th as the White Sox won their fourth straight in a series opener between teams coming off three-game sweeps.
Carlos Rodon (1-4, 4.36) gets the ball tonight for the Sox, he allowed one run on five hits with 10 strikeouts in six innings in his only previous start at Texas in 2015. It was a no-decision.
Texas counters with Derek Holland (3-2, 5.40), who makes his first start since allowing 11 hits and 11 runs in 2 2/3 innings at Toronto, raising his ERA from 2.48 through his first five appearances.
>>Cubs, Padres Rained Out; Twin Bill Set For Tuesday
The Cubs' series opener against the San Diego Padres was rained out Monday night, putting on hold Chicago's 24-6 start.
The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Wednesday, with games at 12:05 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. CDT.
It was the third home rainout of the season for the Cubs, who are off to the best start in the majors since the 1984 Detroit Tigers started 35-5 and went on to win the World Series.
The last time the Cubs had a record this good: 1907 when they were also 24-6. The Cubs won the World Series that year and then again in 1908, after which the current 108-year championship drought began.
>>White Sox Activate Alex Avila
The White Sox have activated Alex Avila from the 15-day disabled list, clearing the way for the veteran catcher to return from a right hamstring strain for the series opener at Texas.
Chicago also recalled right-hander Miguel Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte to start Monday night against the Rangers.
Avila, a free-agent addition in the offseason, got hurt running the bases on April 23. He appeared in three rehab games with Charlotte.
Gonzalez didn't get a decision in his only start for the White Sox on April 25 at Toronto, allowing five runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings.
The White Sox designated catcher Hector Sanchez for assignment to make room for Avila.
They optioned right-hander Tommy Kahnle to Charlotte on Sunday to clear a spot for Gonzalez.
>>Cardinals Open Three Game Series Against Angels
Albert Pujols' former team has yet to perform to its usual expectations, and his current one is literally in a world of hurt.
The St. Louis Cardinals and the injury-plagued Los Angeles Angels both attempt to regroup from disappointing weekends in Tuesday night's opener of a three-game series.
As the Cardinals (16-16) head west off a frustrating 4-6 homestand, the Angels' season is beginning to go south with losses in seven of the last nine games and staff ace Garrett Richards headed for Tommy John surgery.
Los Angeles, hitting .222 and averaging 3.1 runs at home, could be dealing with another extended absence from a key player after shortstop Andrelton Simmons exited Sunday's game with a sprained left thumb.
The Angels get to face a struggling Mike Leake (0-3, 6.03 ERA) in the opener. The free-agent addition remained winless in six starts after allowing four runs on a pair of homers in Wednesday's five-inning no-decision against Philadelphia.
Leake has served up six home runs in his last four outings, though Los Angeles ranks near the bottom of the AL with 25 homers. He also hasn't done well in interleague play of late, compiling a 1-5 record and 7.44 ERA in his past eight starts that includes an 0-4 mark on the road.
Counterpart Hector Santiago (2-1, 3.58) is 0-3 with a 5.47 ERA in his last five interleague starts and wasn't sharp in Wednesday's outing in Milwaukee, surrendering three runs and eight hits while walking four in 5 1/3 innings in a 7-3 Angels' win.
