The Chicago White Sox certainly would like to start a long winning streak of their own.
A day after ending the longest active winning streak in the majors, the White Sox are scheduled to open a four-game series against the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Thursday evening.
Chicago ended a 10-game run by the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday with a 2-1 victory, marking the first time since 2008 the White Sox ended an opponent’s winning streak of 10 games or more.
That streak also was held by the Blue Jays.
Edgar Quero keyed the victory with two doubles, an RBI and a run for the White Sox, who stopped their three-game skid but own the worst record in the American League (31-62).
“Edgar continues to have quality at-bats, especially against left-handed pitching,” Chicago manager Will Venable said. “He’s always putting good swings on pitches and giving us a lot of substance in the middle of the lineup against lefties.”
Quero was behind the plate for starter Adrian Houser, who limited the Blue Jays to one run over seven innings, as well as relievers Grant Taylor and Jordan Leasure, who blanked Toronto over the final two innings.
Getting the save from Leasure also was much needed. He had blown two of his previous four save opportunities this season.
“Felt good. That’s a really, really good offensive team,” Leasure said. “Definitely went in with a lot of focus on executing my pitches, and I felt like I did that. Feels good to keep that win for us.”
The White Sox plan to send right-hander Jonathan Cannon to the mound for the series opener.
Cannon (3-7, 4.50 ERA) ended a six-start winless streak in his most recent outing last Saturday, holding the Colorado Rockies to two runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 10-3 win.
Cannon has lost both of his starts against Cleveland in his career, owning a 7.59 ERA in those games.
The Guardians are coming off a three-game sweep of the AL West-leading Houston Astros after entering the series on a 10-game losing streak, their longest since 2012.
“Wins are going to come,” said left-hander Logan Allen, who is scheduled to start the series opener for the Guardians. “We have to stay the course and keep working.”
Allen (5-7, 4.07 ERA) has lost his past three starts, though he hasn’t pitched poorly in any of those games. Allen most recently held the Detroit Tigers to one run and two hits in six innings but received no run support in a 1-0 loss on Saturday.
“I felt good,” Allen said. “I was very efficient. I was happy to give the team a chance to win. I was happy to go deep into the game.”
Allen is 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA in seven career starts against the White Sox.
Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez said Wednesday that he would not participate in next week’s All-Star Game in Atlanta after he was selected as a starter.
Ramirez said he wants to focus on recovery of an ailing ankle and preparation for the second half of the season. He went 5-for-12 in the series against the Astros with six runs, three home runs and six RBIs.
–Field Level Media
