Marlins' Smith too much for White Sox hitters

[July 24, 2019]  Caleb Smith and two relievers combined on a two-hitter, and Curtis Granderson smacked a two-run home run as the visiting Miami Marlins snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

Miami seized control with a four-run fourth inning against White Sox right-hander Dylan Covey (1-6).

Neil Walker opened the scoring with an RBI single, and he scored on Starlin Castro's run-scoring double one batter later. Granderson, the Marlins' left fielder and a Chicago-area native, punctuated the rally with a two-run home run, his ninth home run of the season.

Covey surrendered another homer one inning later, as Harold Ramirez went deep to right-center field for his fifth of the season with one out in the fifth.

Smith had a perfect game through 5 2/3 innings before he issued consecutive walks to Adam Engel and Leury Garcia. The left-hander then lost both his no-hitter and shutout as Jon Jay grounded an RBI single to right field.

Chicago missed a chance to draw closer as No. 3 hitter Jose Abreu popped out in foul ground to end the threat.

By far, the sequence represented Chicago's best chance against Smith (6-4), who tied a career high by working seven innings. Smith allowed just the one run on two hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. He threw strikes on 57 of his 93 pitches.

Marlins starting pitcher Caleb Smith (31) pitches during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

AJ Reed collected Chicago's only other hit, a one-out single in the seventh.

Relievers Nick Anderson and Jarlin Garcia each worked an inning and retired the side in order.

Covey allowed five runs on six hits in six innings with zero walks and seven strikeouts. He retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced before the Marlins broke things open in the fourth.

Castro had two of Miami's six hits.

--Field Level Media

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