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Rangers 5, White Sox 1

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Ozzie Guillen was tapping his fingers on the desk only moments after the Chicago White Sox dropped 20 games below .500 for the first time since 1989. He even smiled.

No rant from the volatile manager, even after the White Sox committed four errors in one inning and lost 5-1 to Texas as the Rangers completed a three-game sweep Thursday night.

"I never as a manager am going to get on somebody for making physical errors on the field. I never did, never will," Guillen said. "That's part of the game."

Sammy Sosa hit his 606th home run and had an RBI single for the Rangers, who won their season-best fifth straight game on the same day they exercised their 2009 option on rookie manager Ron Washington's contract.

Kevin Millwood (9-11) allowed one run in seven innings to win for the second time in six August starts. He struck out six.

Before the game, Guillen reiterated how frustrated he is with his team, the World Series champion two years ago but now last in the AL Central at 57-77. His mood was drastically different afterward.

Rookie third baseman Andy Gonzalez made three throwing errors and John Danks (6-13) had one when the Rangers scored three unearned runs in the third to break a 1-all tie and go ahead to stay.

"Unfortunately, it happened to this kid. I think everybody in the dugout was feeling for him, counting myself," Guillen said. "I think Danks threw the ball real well. He deserved a little bit better than that."

Danks, the Rangers' first-round draft pick in 2003, tied a career high with eight strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings in his long-anticipated first start in his home state -- though it came for another team. He gave up six hits and five runs, only two earned.

"It was great to be back home in front of people I haven't seen in a while," Danks said.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia led off the third with a grounder that Gonzalez threw away. Ramon Vazquez bunted and was credited with a sacrifice when Danks hit him in the back with the ball for a throwing error.

Gerald Laird had a bunt single and Gonzalez threw the ball wide of first, allowing two runs to score. Laird came home after Sosa's two-out grounder to Gonzalez led to another error and put the Rangers up 4-1.

"[Gonzalez] wasn't trying to throw the ball away. And I didn't help my cause," Danks said.

Gonzalez played only his eighth game at third. The rookie has been there while the White Sox take a look at Josh Fields as an everyday outfielder.

"I'm mad, but it's part of the game," Gonzalez said. "When I came to the dugout, the guys gave me a lift, saying just keep going, keep playing the way you're playing."

Jim Thome went 2-for-4 with a homer, the 495th of his career, in the first that gave Chicago a 1-0 lead. It was his 23rd of the season and fifth in six games against the Rangers. Thome finished the season series 10-for-15 with 11 walks, and at one point reached base in 16 straight plate appearances.

Sosa hit his 18th homer of the season in the second and added an RBI single in the fifth that scored Laird, who had a leadoff double.

"I'm taking advantage of opportunities that I have," Sosa said. "I'm working on my swing, working hard and staying in shape."

Sosa has become a part-time player while the Rangers evaluate several youngsters. The 38-year-old slugger started for only the 11th time in 29 games Thursday, but still leads the team with 78 RBIs.

The Rangers also scored three unearned runs Wednesday night in a 5-4, 11-inning victory -- a game in which Sosa tied the score with a pinch-hit RBI double and won it with a sacrifice fly.

Danks was the Rangers' top pitching prospect when they traded him for Brandon McCarthy last winter, two days before Christmas.

While the Rangers hadn't anticipated Danks being one of their starters this season, the left-hander won the final spot in the White Sox rotation during spring training. He has lost seven straight decisions in a span of eight starts, but this was only the second time in two starts he didn't give up more than two earned runs.

"Personally, this was a good one for me," Danks said. "I'd like to take back a couple of pitches, but for the most part I felt great. I hope there is some carry-over."

Game notes

For the second day in a row, an afternoon thunderstorm kept the teams from taking batting practice on the field. But the game started on time, just as it did Wednesday. ... Rangers LF Frank Catalanotto didn't play, a day after tweaking his groin while running out a double. ... The Rangers finished their fifth straight winning homestand, the first time they've done that since 1998.