Rangers Cool Off the White Sox, 10-0

Esteban Loaiza is proving to the Texas Rangers that the answer to their starting pitching problems was in their bullpen.

Loaiza won his fifth consecutive decision and fourth consecutive start Sunday in the Rangers’ 10-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Ivan Rodriguez and Rusty Greer each homered twice as the AL West-leading Rangers ended their four-game losing streak.

“That’s a shot in the arm and a kick in the seat at the same time,” Texas Manager Johnny Oates said. “We don’t want to go to Cleveland with a five-game losing streak.”

Loaiza (5-1) gave up five hits and one walk, striking out five over eight innings. Danny Kolb pitched the ninth.

“I wanted to finish, but I had 120-something (126) pitches and I have to get ready for the next start,” Loaiza said.

Since he joined the Rangers’ rotation July 24, Loaiza is 4-0 with a 2.27 earned-run average in five starts.

“As a reliever, I threw hard all the time,” Loaiza said. “As a starter, I can mix my pitches more.”

Rodriguez extended a career-high with his 26th homer, a two-run shot, with two outs in the ninth. He has fourth multihomer games this year and eight in his career.