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 The same day he was called up from Double-A Corpus Christi, Gattis
went 2-for-4 as the designated hitter and drilled a two-run home run
in the 11th inning of the Astros' 6-5 win against the Chicago White
Sox on Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
Gattis, who was optioned to the minors May 7 after a rough start,
launched his homer to left field off an 0-2 count against Matt
Albers.
"Hitting home runs, in general, never gets old," Gattis said. "I was
just glad I could help us today. It was a hard-fought game on both
ends. I'm just glad we came out on top."
Gattis' blast provided a 6-4 cushion that the Astros needed for the
win. The White Sox scored a run in the bottom of the 11th on a
double by Adam Eaton, but Tony Sipp struck out Alex Avila to end the
game and record his first save of the season.
"I'm glad we called that guy up from Double-A," Houston manager A.J.
Hinch said. "That was a nice call-up for the day. We welcome him
back and we certainly missed him with that type of at-bat. I was
happy he was able to give us the lead. That was a game that was
never going to end by the looks of how some of the breaks we're
going, but what a nice win for us."
Tyler White went 3-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs for Houston,
which lost its previous two games and three of the first four on a
seven-game road trip. Albers (1-3) took the loss for Chicago, which
has dropped three straight games and five of its past six.
 "I think any time you lose close games, you know you can do it,"
White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "We left a lot of guys on base
today, a lot of (missed) opportunities. Any time you lose like that,
you feel like that. As far as effort, these guys come prepared and
ready to go. That hasn't been a question yet. These guys are coming
to play."
Tyler Saladino had a double and two RBIs to lead Chicago, which also
got a solo home run from Jose Abreu.
In the 11th, George Springer led off with a single and stole second
with two outs. White Sox manager Robin Ventura thought his catcher,
Avila, was interfered with on the attempt to throw Springer out, but
the call wasn't made by home-plate umpire Tony Randazzo. Gattis
homered in the next at-bat.
"I just thought (Avila) had altered the way he was throwing,"
Ventura said. "He had to go over the top of him and it doesn't
matter if he swings or not, if it impedes his throw or makes him
alter, he should be out. That was my feeling on that. (Randazzo)
didn't feel he did it. Obviously a difference of opinion."
Houston (16-24) broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth with a run sparked by
White's third hit, a leadoff double off Chicago's Zach Putnam.
Rookie Tony Kemp replaced White as a pinch runner and scored on Jose
Altuve's sacrifice fly to put the Astros up 4-3.
Chicago (24-15) countered with a run in the ninth to tie it 4-4 off
closer Luke Gregerson, who blew his third save in 11 opportunities.
Austin Jackson led off with a double, moved to third on a bunt
single by Carlos Sanchez and scored on Saladino's sacrifice fly.
Struggling Astros ace Dallas Keuchel, the American League's reigning
Cy Young winner, took a no-decision after allowing three runs in 6
1/3 innings. Chicago starter Carlos Rodon also got a no-decision
after allowing three runs (two earned) in six innings.
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Keuchel was pleased with his outing overall. He allowed Abreu's
homer in the fourth and then two runs in the fifth on four straight
two-out hits. He left with one out in the seventh after walking the
bases loaded. Reliever Ken Giles replaced him and got two strikeouts
to end that threat.
"That's the best I've felt so far, and besides the elevated changeup
to a very good hitter in Abreu, I felt like I made a lot of
pitches," Keuchel said. "I got a little tired and a little cold (in
the seventh). Had a little layover from the top of the seventh. I
was lucky to get out of there. Giles came in and did a great job.
That's the Giles we've all seen before, so that's a very good sign
and the bullpen did a great job."
Houston took a 2-0 lead off Rodon with solo runs in the second and
fourth innings.
A leadoff single by Gattis and an error by White Sox third baseman
Saladino led to the first run, which Gattis scored on a two-out
single to left by Jason Castro in the second. White's sixth homer of
the season, and first of the game, accounted for the second run, a
solo shot off Rodon with two outs in the fourth.
Abreu countered with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth off
Keuchel to get the White Sox on the scoreboard with their first hit
and baserunner.
That opened the door against Keuchel. Chicago took a 3-2 lead in the
fifth against the Astros' ace, who allowed two more runs on four
consecutive two-out hits started by back-to-back doubles from Dioner
Navarro and Saladino, the White Sox's eighth and ninth hitters.
The lead didn't last long thanks to White, who hit his second homer
of the game off Rodon with one out in the sixth to tie it 3-3.
NOTES: White Sox 3B Todd Frazier didn't start because of an illness.
Frazier hadn't missed a start in Chicago's first 38 games. ... The
Astros placed CF Carlos Gomez (bruised left rib cage) on the 15-day
disabled list, retroactive to May 16. ... Houston had a slew of
other roster moves Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, they brought up
INF Tony Kemp and designated C Erik Kratz for assignment. On
Tuesday, they designated RHP Asher Wojciechowski for assignment and
recalled two players from the minors: 3B Colin Moran from the
Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies and C/DH Evan Gattis from the Double-A
Corpus Christi Hooks. Gattis started at DH. Astros manager A.J.
Hinch said Gattis and Moran will each start Wednesday, and Gattis
will catch the series finale Thursday. ... Houston INF Marwin
Gonzalez started at third base despite a sore foot.
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