Zavala homers twice, drives in 4 runs as the White Sox beat the Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — For at least one night, Seby Zavala and the Chicago White Sox were able to break out of their offensive slump.
Zavala had his second two-homer game of the season and drove in four runs as the White Sox pounded out 17 hits in an 11-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.
"It was nice for us to put some some runs on the board and give us a little breathing room," manager Pedro Grifol said. "Overall, it was a really good team win."
Zavala — the catcher who is batting .168 and was 4 for 35 in his last 18 games —had the go-ahead hit with a solo shot to left-center in the second and homered down the left-field line in the fifth. He added a two-run single in the ninth.
"I didn't miss my pitches. I missed quite a few pitches in the last few weeks," Zavala said. "I had some good at-bats and just kind of have to keep it going."
Andrew Vaughn and Zach Remillard also had three hits apiece as the White Sox scored in each of the first five innings to build a 9-2 lead.
Luis Robert Jr. and Eloy Jiménez also went deep to help Chicago tie a season high with four homers.
Lucas Giolito (6-5) struck out nine, going seven innings for the fourth time this season.
"The offense erupted tonight. It was fantastic," Giolito said. "Pitching comfortably with that type of run support makes your job so much easier."
Los Angeles' Brandon Drury had three hits, including a solo shot in the seventh, and drove in three runs. Hunter Renfroe also homered in the seventh.
Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout had back-to-back triples in the first inning. It is the first time in 19 years Angels' teammates have done that in the opening frame.
Robert, who is second in the American League in home runs, hit a 444-foot, two-run shot to center off Jaime Barria (2-3) in the first inning for his 23rd of the season and put the White Sox on the board.
The Angels tied it in the first on Trout's RBI triple and Drury's base hit before Giolito retired 12 straight.
Jiménez led off the third with a homer to left center and Remillard had an RBI double to extend the advantage to 5-2.
Barria, who was making his first start in two weeks, gave up five runs and seven hits, including three home runs, in three innings.
"It is a tough role to be in and sit that long and don't pitch that much. Tonight was just a little bump in the road," manager Phil Nevin said of Barria.
Vaughn then put it out of reach on a bases-loaded double in the fourth inning to make it a six-run lead.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: RHP Liam Hendriks (right elbow inflammation) did some throwing from flat ground, but it is expected it will be at least a week before he begins throwing from the mound.
Angels: SS Zach Neto (left oblique strain) is still waiting to resume baseball activities according to Nevin. Neto went on the injured list on June 15.