Danks shows his stuff to Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas -- John Danks showed the Texas Rangers fans what they’re missing.

Danks, the Chicago White Sox left-hander who was once the Rangers’ top pitching prospect, struck out eight with no walks in 7 2/3 innings Saturday night and the Central Division leaders beat the Rangers, 9-7.

Danks (7-4) retired 14 consecutive batters before giving up consecutive doubles to German Duran and Ian Kinsler in the eighth.

The Rangers’ Josh Hamilton, the starting All-Star outfielder, increased his major league-leading RBI total to 95 with two run-scoring singles. It was his fifth consecutive game with multiple RBIs.

After Hamilton’s run-scoring single with two out in the third, Danks didn’t allow another base runner until Duran doubled. Danks left with an 8-4 lead after Hamilton’s run-scoring single.

The 23-year-old Danks, a Texas native who was the ninth overall pick by the Rangers in the 2003 draft, was traded to Chicago in December 2006 in a five-player deal that sent Brandon McCarthy to Texas. Danks earned a spot in the White Sox rotation the following spring.