Homer-happy White Sox too much for Indians

[May 14, 2019]  Yoan Moncada drilled a pair of solo home runs against Shane Bieber, who gave up four in all, and Reynaldo Lopez pitched 7 2/3 strong innings to lift the host Chicago White Sox to a 5-2 victory against the Cleveland Indians on Monday night.

Jose Abreu hit his club-leading 10th home run for the White Sox in the first inning and Welington Castillo added a solo shot in the second before Moncada homered in successive at-bats, in the third and sixth.

The power surge proved to be plenty of support for Lopez (3-4), who scattered two runs -- one earned -- and two hits in his longest outing of the season, walking two and striking out six.

Aaron Bummer and Alex Colome contributed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to complete Chicago's combined two-hitter and help the White Sox to their third straight win. Colome pitched the ninth inning to earn his eighth save.
 

Cleveland opened the scoring in the first inning, as Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor launched a solo home run off Lopez on the third pitch of the game. Lindor drove in Cleveland's other run with a third-inning sacrifice fly that plated Leonys Martin, tying the game at 2 apiece.

The Indians struggled to mount much more offense against Lopez, who threw 64 of his 103 pitches for strikes en route to delivering his fifth quality start in his past six outings. Lopez retired 15 of the next 17 hitters he faced following Lindor's leadoff home run, only issuing a pair of walks during that span.

White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada (10) celebrates after defeating the Cleveland Indians at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Moncada went 3-for-4 to pace Chicago's nine-hit attack. Yolmer Sanchez and Castillo added two hits each. Sanchez contributed an RBI double in the seventh to deliver the lone Chicago run that didn't come via solo homer.

Bieber (2-2) took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings while striking out six without a walk.

The teams are set to conclude an abbreviated two-game series on Tuesday afternoon.

--Field Level Media

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