Chicago, IL (Best E Casino) - Scott Feldman was solid on the mound and Josh Hamilton belted a three-run homer, as the Texas Rangers topped the Chicago White Sox, 6-1, in the opener of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.

Recalled from Double-A Frisco prior to the game to start in place of Eric Hurley, Feldman (4-3) gave up one run on four hits in six innings to pick up the win. Frank Francisco, Eddie Guardado and Jamey Wright each hurled a scoreless inning in relief.

"He did a great job for us," Texas manager Ron Washington said of Feldman.

Hank Blalock hit a two-run homer for the Rangers, who have won two straight and leapfrogged Oakland -- which was blanked, 4-0, by Tampa Bay earlier Monday -- for second place in the AL West.

David Murphy doubled twice and scored a run, while Ian Kinsler went 0-for-4 with a run batted in. The all-star second baseman is hitless in his last 17 at-bats following a career-high 25-game hitting streak.

Javier Vazquez (7-8) allowed three runs on four hits over seven innings to take the loss for Chicago, which has dropped three in a row and four of five overall. The right-hander also matched his season-high with 10 strikeouts. Boone Logan surrendered three runs in one-plus innings of relief.

"We need to pick it up," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "It was ashame to waste Vazquez's effort. He only made one mistake. He deserved to win the ballgame."

Carlos Quentin homered for the White Sox, who remain just a half-game ahead of the Minnesota Twins -- who were walloped by the New York Yankees, 12-4 -- for the top spot AL Central.

The Rangers grabbed a 3-0 lead in the third on Hamilton's 22nd home run of the season. Jarrod Saltalamacchia stroked a one-out single and moved to second on an Kinsler groundout. Michael Young then worked a walk before Hamilton drove a 2-0 slider to dead center field.

Chicago got a run back in the fourth when Quentin crushed his 24th home run, a lead-off shot to left. Quentin leads the American League in homers, one ahead of Cleveland's Grady Sizemore.

Texas tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the eighth. Logan started the inning for Chicago and set down the first two batters with relative ease. Murphy then doubled to prolong the frame and Blalock followed with a rocket over the right field wall for a 5-1 lead.

The Rangers added another run in the ninth on a Kinsler sacrifice fly.

Game Notes

Feldman has won three straight decisions...The Rangers turned three double plays...To make room on the roster for Feldman, the team optioned catcher Taylor Teagarden to Triple-A Oklahoma...At 52-48, Texas matched its high- water mark for the season (four games over .500)...The White Sox purchased the contract of pitcher Clayton Richard from Triple-A Charlotte on Monday. Richard takes the roster spot of pitcher Adam Russell, who was optioned to Charlotte following Sunday's 8-7 setback to Kansas City. The club also transferred pitcher Andrew Sisco from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list on Monday...Sportswriter Jerome Holtzman, who covered baseball in Chicago for more than four decades, died Saturday after a long illness. He was 82 years old. The White Sox had a moment of silence before the game.