Martinez homers and pitches Cardinals past White Sox

[May 03, 2018]  St. Louis right-hander Carlos Martinez pitched 7 1/3 strong innings and hit his first major league homer and Dexter Fowler homered in the Cardinals' 3-2 interleague victory over the Chicago White Sox at Busch Stadium on Wednesday.

Martinez broke a scoreless tie with a two-out homer in the sixth inning and Fowler hit a two-run homer for a 3-0 lead in the seventh when the Cardinals swept the mini two-game series after losing their previous three games.

Martinez (3-1) gave up five hits and one run while striking out five and walking two in his first May start. He gave up two earned runs in 33 1/3 innings in April for an 0.54 ERA, the best in that month in franchise history among pitchers with at least 30 innings.

The White Sox had six hits, and Jose Abreu's bloop double in the fourth inning was the only one for extra bases. The White Sox have lost four in a row and are 4-13 since April 12. They are 3-9 in one-run games,.

Yadier Molina had two of the Cardinals' four hits. Fowler's homer was his fourth.

The White Sox scored two runs in the seventh inning to make it 3-2. Tim Anderson singled and stole second before Dominic Leone replaced Martinez and walked Yoan Moncada with one out.

Yolmer Sanchez singled in Anderson and Abreu hit a sacrifice fly to score pinch runner Trayce Thompson. Moncada was forced to leave the game after sliding awkwardly into third base on Abreu's fly.

Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez (18) pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-USA TODAY Sports

Bud Norris struck out Nicky Delmonico to end the eighth inning and pitched the ninth for his sixth save.

White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (1-4) gave up four hits and three runs, striking out seven and walking two. He had retired 12 straight before Martinez homered on the first pitch with two outs in the sixth.

Molina's infield single in the first inning was the Cardinals' only hit until Martinez homered.

Martinez gave up a single to Leury Garcia and walked Omar Navarez with one out in the seventh inning but induced rookie Daniel Palka to hit into his second double play of the game to end the inning.

--Field Level Media

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