White Sox lose again as Astros take series
CHICAGO (AP) — Yainer Diaz hit his first major league home run to back rookie Hunter Brown and help the Houston Astros beat the Chicago White Sox 4-3 on Sunday for their fourth win in five games.
Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run double in the first, advanced on shortstop Tim Anderson's throwing error and scored on Kyle Tucker's sacrifice fly as the Astro built an early lead. Diaz, who debuted last September, homered off Lucas Giolito (2-3) in the fourth for a four-run advantage.
Houston is 21-19 without injured second baseman Jose Altuve, left fielder Michael Brantley and starting pitchers Luis Garcia, José Urquidy and Lance McCullers Jr.
Luis Robert Jr. homered for the third consecutive game and Jake Burger also went deep for the White Sox, who have lost four of five and seven of 11.
Burger, recovered from a strained oblique that had sidelined him since May 3, cut the deficit to 4-3 with a two-run homer in the sixth,
Brown (4-1) allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, walked one and tied his career high with eight strikeouts.
Ryan Pressly pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his seventh save in seven chances..
Robert drove his 11th homer in the fourth.
Giolito allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: Brantley (right shoulder inflammation) expressed frustration with the setback in his return from surgery. The five-time All-Star is out indefinitely. "As a competitor, you want to be out there with your team," he said. "I love these guys. I love this organization. No one is more disappointed than myself." …OF Chas McCormick (back tightness) returned to the lineup after missing four consecutive games. …SS Jeremy Peña had the day off.
White Sox: C Carlos Pérez was optioned to Charlotte. …C Yasmani Grandal (right hamstring tightness) was available Sunday and could return to the lineup Tuesday, Grifol said. Grandal was scratched Saturday after he left Thursday's 4-3 loss at Kansas City. …RHP Liam Hendriks (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) struck out one in 1/3 of an inning in a rehab appearance with Charlotte as he nears a return.
UP NEXT
Astros: LHP Framber Valdez (3-4, 2.38 ERA) is set to start Monday against RHP Jameson Taillon (0-2, 6.41) and the Cubs.
White Sox: Chicago had yet to announce its starter for Tuesday against Cleveland and RHP Shane Bieber (3-1, 2.61).