Luis Robert Jr., Gavin Sheets and Andrew Vaughn homered and Garrett Crochet pitched six strong innings as the host Chicago White Sox defeated the Boston Red Sox 7-2 on Friday to stop a 14-game losing streak.
Chicago snapped its franchise-worst, single-season skid behind an eight-hit attack, winning for the first time since a road shutout of the Toronto Blue Jays on May 21. Opponents outscored the White Sox 97-45 during the losing streak, with Boston delivering the most lopsided result in Thursday’s series opener, 14-2.
Paul DeJong had two hits and two RBIs, while Vaughn added two hits.
Robert put the White Sox on the board first with a first-inning solo shot against Cooper Criswell, but the lead was short-lived.
Boston tallied a pair of runs in the third. Bobby Dalbec scored on a Crochet throwing error that allowed batter Jarren Duran to reach third base. Duran stole home standing up moments later while Crochet was throwing the ball to first on an appeal.
There weren’t many blemishes for Crochet (6-5) after that. The left-hander scattered two runs (one earned) and three hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts.
Crochet has fanned at least 10 batters in four of his 14 starts this season.
Chicago regained the lead with a three-run fourth, capitalizing on a Red Sox defensive miscue. DeJong tied the game with an RBI single, but a Duran throwing error in left field allowed DeJong to take second and Vaughn to move up to third.
Oscar Colas followed by grounding a two-run single past a drawn-in Boston infield to put the White Sox ahead 4-2.
Sheets and Vaughn opened the sixth with back-to-back solo blasts against Greg Weissert. DeJong added an RBI double in the eighth.
Jonathan Cannon pitched three innings of scoreless relief with three hits and four strikeouts to earn his first career save.
Criswell fell to 3-3 after yielding four runs (three earned) and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out two.
Boston’s Connor Wong had two hits. Rafael Devers singled to extend his on-base streak to 13 consecutive games.
–Field Level Media
