Gavin Sheets, Carlos Rodon lift White Sox past Pirates

[September 02, 2021]   Gavin Sheets homered twice and drove in four runs and Carlos Rodon won for the second time in as many starts since returning from the injured list as the host Chicago White Sox topped the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3 on Wednesday night.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Gavin Sheets (32) watches his three-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Luis Robert, Yasmani Grandal and Leury Garcia added two hits each for American League Central-leading Chicago (78-56), which swept the two-game interleague series to win for the fifth time in six games.

Rodon improved to 11-5 behind five innings of one-run, five-hit ball with one walk and five strikeouts. The left-hander returned to the team Thursday after missing nearly three weeks with fatigue in his throwing shoulder.

Pittsburgh (48-85), meanwhile, lost for the fourth time in five games. Cole Tucker had two hits, including a double, and Anthony Alford hit a solo home run.

The Pirates drew to within 5-3 on Jacob Stallings' RBI single in the eighth. However, Liam Hendriks wriggled out of further trouble, getting the final five outs to record his 31st save.

Sheets' solo home run in the bottom of the eighth provided additional cushion.

Among the White Sox's call-ups from Triple-A Charlotte as rosters expanded Wednesday, Sheets opened the scoring in the fourth, connecting on a two-out, three-run homer against Pirates starter Max Kranick.

Pittsburgh responded with a Tucker RBI single in the top of the fifth before Chicago answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half. Kranick appeared to induce an inning-ending double-play grounder, but a throwing error on the play by shortstop Kevin Newman allowed a run to score. Garcia followed with an RBI double two batters later.

Kranick (1-3) yielded five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings with two walks and one strikeout. It was his first appearance in the major leagues since Aug. 3, as he was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis pregame.

White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada extended his hitting streak to 16 games with an infield single in the fifth. Grandal's on-base streak swelled to 20 games.

Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes missed his second consecutive game with a right hand contusion.

--Field Level Media

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