LDN - Sports

Abreu homers twice as White Sox rout Giants

[September 11, 2017] CHICAGO -- A day after he hit for the cycle for the first time in his career, Jose Abreu came up with an encore.

Abreu homered twice and Carson Fulmer outpitched Madison Bumgarner as the Chicago White Sox beat the San Francisco Giants 8-1 on Sunday afternoon.

Abreu hit his 30th and 31st home runs of the season to help the White Sox outscore the Giants 21-2 in winning the final two games in the three-game series.

"I feel very good at home plate, but it's also because of the work I put in day in and day out with my routine," Abreu said through an interpreter.

"Also, with the support of my family -- they just called me a few minutes ago to let me know they're good in Miami. The hurricane already passed through and they are safe. That's something that makes you feel comfortable and confident in yourself. That's why probably the results have been good."

Fulmer (2-1) struck out a career-high nine, allowed one run and three hits and walked three in a career-high six innings in his second major league start. He racked up six strikeouts in the first two innings.

"I always like strikeouts, obviously," Fulmer said. "I was able to get ahead with a lot of guys and challenge them with the ball up in the zone. I had a little extra with my fastball today. My breaking ball later in the game was able to get a couple of guys swinging and overall it was a great day."

In his other start, Fulmer yielded a career-high six runs in 1 1/3 innings Aug. 21 against Minnesota. He picked up his other career victory in a relief appearance Sept. 2.

Bumgarner (3-8) gave up a season-high six runs and 10 hits, struck out four and walked one in five innings in his first career matchup with the White Sox.

"I felt pretty good, honestly. That's the frustrating part about it," Bumgarner said. "The results just weren't there for me."

He has allowed 11 runs in his last 11 innings.

"It wasn't a typical outing that we're accustomed to from Bum," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "That one inning just killed us, that five-run inning. Bum bounced back after that inning and threw well."

The White Sox, last in the American League, won their second interleague series of the season after beating the San Diego Padres in mid-May.

Abreu drove a two-run shot in the five-run second inning.

"I really don't know what to do there," Bumgarner said. "That was pretty impressive hitting, I guess. I mean, I threw the ball right where I wanted to on that one."

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Yolmer Sanchez started the rally with an RBI double, and Rymer Liriano scored on a throwing error by right fielder Mac Williamson. Tim Anderson followed with an RBI single, and Abreu's blast to center field gave him 30 home runs in a season for the third time in his career.

Matt Davidson added an RBI double to extend the lead to 6-1 in the fifth. A wild pitch by Albert Suarez scored Sanchez in the sixth after he tripled.

Abreu had a solo shot in the seventh to give him four multi-homer games this season and 10 in his career. He is five home runs shy of his career high in a season.

The Giants' Jarrett Parker led off the second inning with his third home run in his first game since Sept. 1 due to an oblique strain. Fulmer struck out the next three batters.

The Giants, who have the second-worst record in the majors, were looking to win their first road series since they swept the Pirates June 30-July 2. At a National League-worst 24-51 on the road, San Francisco has won just three road series this season.

"Our pitching was off. We're not swinging the bats at all right now," Bochy said.

The White Sox improved to 9-4 all-time against the Giants, dropping just one series -- in 2003.

"Since the young kids have started coming up, we're playing with more motivation, with joy," Abreu said. "We're enjoying more of the game."

NOTES: Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he considered having starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner be the designated hitter. He has hit .187 with 17 home runs in his career. ... Giants OF Jarrett Parker (oblique) returned to the starting lineup Sunday at designated hitter. Parker hadn't played since Sept. 1. He is at about 80 percent for throwing, Bochy said. ... Giants C Buster Posey (finger) returned to catcher after serving as the DH Friday and Saturday. He was hit by a foul tip Tuesday. ... White Sox 1B Jose Abreu hit for the cycle Saturday against the Giants to join the Rockies' Nolan Arenado, the Dodgers' Cody Bellinger, the Rangers' Carlos Gomez, the Rays' Evan Longoria, the Padres' Wil Myers and the Nationals' Trea Turner in accomplishing the feat this season. The seven cycles are the second-most in a major league season behind eight in 2009 and 1933. ... Abreu and teammates 2B Yoan Moncada, 3B Yolmer Sanchez and SS Tim Anderson became the first starting infield in White Sox history to all homer in a game Saturday, according to STATS.

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