Jimenez homers twice, White Sox top Yankees in shortened game

[April 13, 2019]  Eloy Jimenez snapped a tie with his first career home run, a two-run shot in the top of the fifth inning, then homered in his next at-bat in the seventh as the Chicago White Sox halted a five-game losing streak with a rain-shortened 9-6 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night at Yankee Stadium.

In his 46th career at-bat, the rookie left fielder gave the White Sox a 7-5 lead by leaving no doubt about his milestone. Jimenez slugged a 2-1 four-seam fastball by Jonathan Holder over the center field fence and on to the netting above Monument Park.

Jimenez celebrated the 425-foot drive by pumping his right fist as he rounded first base. He then was given the silent treatment in the dugout by teammates before being doused with water.

Jimenez's home run proved even more crucial when four Chicago pitchers struggled to get through the sixth.

After starter Lucas Giolito (2-1) allowed the first two hitters to reach, Jose Ruiz gave up an RBI single to Gio Urshela. After Jace Fry recorded the second out, Nate Jones hit Aaron Judge near the left bicep to load the bases.

Jones appeared to struggle gripping the ball in the rain but escaped trouble when Jimenez caught Luke Voit's lineout.

Jimenez then made it 8-6 by driving Chad Green's 1-1 four-seam fastball 446 feet into Chicago's bullpen beyond the left-center field fence in the seventh inning.

Jimenez became the first White Sox player to hit his first two career home runs in the same game since Jose Abreu on April 8, 2014.

James McCann made it back-to-back homers before heavy rain delayed the game. They eventually called it in the top of the seventh.

White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) pitches against the New York Yankees during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Yonder Alonso drove in three runs with an RBI single in the first and a two-run homer in the fifth off J.A. Happ (0-2). Leury Garcia added a two-run double and scored once for Chicago.

The Yankees lost their fourth straight and dropped to 2-5 at home after squandering an early three-run lead. They took their latest loss after placing catcher Gary Sanchez on the injured list with a strained left calf earlier in the day.

DJ LeMahieu hit a two-run single in the first while Austin Romine had a run-scoring single and Judge lifted a sacrifice fly in the second. Brett Gardner homered in the fourth to make it 5-3 before the White Sox stormed back.

Giolito gave up six runs (four earned) on six hits in five-plus innings. He walked four and struck out six.

Happ failed to complete five innings for the third straight start, giving up six runs on nine hits in four-plus innings.

--Field Level Media

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