|
Houston earned its fourth win in a row, having
averaged 9.5 runs per game in that span. The Astros have won 13
of their past 17 games. Chicago took just its second loss in
eight games.
One night after smacking a season-high six homers against the
Texas Rangers, the Astros wasted little time flexing their might
against the White Sox, who entered the four-game series with the
best record and run differential in the American League.
Brantley ignited the barrage with his fourth home run, a
three-run, first-inning shot to right field off White Sox
right-hander Dylan Cease (5-3).
Cease fell into a 3-0 hole before recording his first out,
allowing a leadoff single to Altuve before Chas McCormick
reached when White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada made an errant
toss attempting to erase Altuve at second base. Brantley
followed by drilling a 1-0 fastball 375 feet.
Cease settled down and retired nine consecutive batters before
coming undone in the fourth inning, when he allowed the first
four batters to reach base safely. Carlos Correa roped an RBI
double to right-center that scored Yuli Gurriel for a 4-0 lead
before Toro smoked a two-run single.
Two batters later, Cease departed after walking nine-hole hitter
Jason Casto. He allowed a season-high seven runs (six earned) on
four hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings.
Altuve, who finished 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs, bashed
his club-leading 16th home run to left-center with one out in
the sixth off White Sox reliever Matt Foster. Toro added his
first homer in the seventh, a two-run shot off Foster.
Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy (5-3) cruised through his first
five innings, facing just one batter over the minimum. He
labored in the sixth, however, surrendering three hits and
issuing a walk. Adam Engel and Jose Abreu notched run-scoring
singles, but Urquidy survived the onslaught by inducing a flyout
from Yermin Mercedes to end the rally.
Urquidy retired the side in order in the seventh to complete his
outing, having allowed two runs on four hits and one walk with
five strikeouts.
--Field Level Media
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
