Abreu, Giolito lead White Sox past struggling Angels

[July 24, 2018]  Jose Abreu hit a home run and a run-scoring single to back the solid pitching of Lucas Giolito as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 on Monday at Anaheim, Calif., in the opener of a four-game series.

The win was the fifth in eight games for the White Sox. Los Angeles has lost four of its past five games and hasn't won two straight since July 8-10.

Giolito (7-8), the first of seven Chicago pitchers, gave up three runs on five hits and four walks over six innings.

Joakim Soria allowed a bloop single and a walk in the ninth inning but struck out Justin Upton with two outs to escape the jam and record his 15th save of the year.

Jaime Barria (5-7), who was called up from the Triple-A Salt Lake before the game, took the loss after allowing four runs on four hits in five-plus innings. Barria struck out two and walked three, including the final two batters he faced in the sixth inning.

Abreu blasted a solo home run in the top of the first to stake the White Sox to a 1-0 lead. Los Angeles responded with two runs in the third, as Kole Calhoun doubled home David Fletcher and Mike Trout plated Calhoun on a sacrifice fly to deep center field.

The Angels expanded their lead to 3-1 in the fourth as Shohei Ohtani ripped a solo homer over the center field fence. Chicago got back to within one run in the fifth when Kevan Smith's groundout chased home Leury Garcia.

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79) hits a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Abreu's single in the sixth plated Yoan Moncada to tie the game. The White Sox then took the lead on Garcia's sacrifice fly that allowed Yolmer Sanchez to cross and added to their advantage when Smith was hit by a pitch from Hansel Robles with the bases loaded, forcing home Abreu from third base.

Trout walked four times in the game and did not have an official at bat.

--Field Level Media

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