Engel's grab highlights White Sox's win over Astros
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[August 09, 2017]
CHICAGO -- White Sox left-hander
Derek Holland described the play as one of the best catches he has
seen in his career.
Chicago catcher Kevan Smith felt a rush of adrenaline nearly 400
feet away from behind the plate.
As for White Sox center fielder Adam Engel, whose leaping grab
beyond the outfield wall robbed Houston Astros catcher Brian McCann
of a fourth-inning home run, everything happened in a blur.
"Honestly, when I went up, it hit me in the glove where balls will
kind of squirt out, shoot out of your glove," Engel said. "I came
down and I saw (teammate Avisail Garcia's) reaction, and I was like,
'Good, it stayed in my glove.' That was pretty cool."
The White Sox also shined at the plate in an 8-5 victory over the
Astros on Tuesday night. Smith doubled, homered and drove in four
runs to lead the effort.
Garcia, Jose Abreu and Tim Anderson each added two hits as the White
Sox (42-68) matched their highest run total since June 30 while
snapping a six-game losing streak.
"Hitting is really contagious," Smith said. "You kind of see
whenever a guy proves that they can have a quality at-bat, the next
guy can come and have a quality at-bat, and it just trickles down
the line."
Alex Bregman hit a three-run triple to lead the Astros. Houston
(71-41) lost for the seventh time in 10 games but still owns the
best record in the American League.
Holland (6-11) earned his first victory since June 13 despite
issuing a season-high seven walks. He allowed three runs on five
hits in 5 2/3 innings, and he struck out five.
Holland's stat line could have been much uglier if not for Engel's
catch. The southpaw lifted his arms and screamed as he watched the
rookie outfielder scale the wall for the grab.
"As soon as I gave it up, I thought for sure it was gone," Holland
said. "I really thought it was 30 rows deep the way he hit it. For
him to make the play he did, that's huge."
Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel (9-2) surrendered eight runs on 10
hits in four innings. He has given up 14 runs in three starts over
12 innings since a stint on the disabled list caused by a neck
ailment.
"Not a good night for him from the very beginning," Houston manager
A.J. Hinch said. "They made him work pretty hard to make good
pitches, and they put up good at-bats and came through with some
really big hits. He had a little trouble executing and got a little
bit of bad luck."
Right-hander Tyler Clippard pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his
second save of the season and his first with Chicago.
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White Sox starting pitcher Derek Holland (45) throws the ball
against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Guaranteed
Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
The White Sox jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first
inning as Keuchel struggled with his command. Avisail Garcia, Yoan
Moncada and Leury Garcia each drove in a run during the outburst,
which included four hits and one walk.
Houston evened the score at 3 thanks to Bregman's two-out,
bases-loaded triple in the second. Bregman's line drive to
right-center field scored Marwin Gonzalez, McCann and Jake
Marisnick.
The White Sox battered Keuchel again in the third to regain a 6-3
edge. Smith hit a two-run double down the left field line, and Engel
drove in another run with a single to left field.
One inning later, Smith clubbed a two-run homer into the left field
bleachers to make it 8-3.
Houston cut the deficit to 8-5 in the seventh behind solo home runs
by Jose Altuve and Yuli Gurriel. Both players went deep off Chicago
right-hander Jake Petricka, who relieved Holland.
"They're a good team -- any team in the big leagues is a good team,"
Bregman said of the White Sox. "You have to bring your 'A' game, and
we didn't bring it tonight."
NOTES: Astros OF George Springer took part in a rigorous workout
before the game, and he could return from the 10-day disabled list
before the end of the series against the White Sox, manager A.J.
Hinch said. Springer has been out since July 25 with discomfort in
his left quadriceps. ... White Sox OF Avisail Garcia was activated
from the 10-day disabled list and went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two
runs. Garcia missed 12 games because of a strained ligament in his
right thumb. ... White Sox 3B/DH Matt Davidson was placed on the
10-day disabled list, retroactive to Friday, because of a bruised
right wrist. ... Astros SS Alex Bregman notched an extra-base hit
for the ninth consecutive game. Bregman moved within one game of the
franchise-record streak set by Richard Hidalgo in 2000. [© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All
rights reserved.]
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