Gavin Sheets drilled a three-run home run as part of a 3-for-4, four-RBI night and Luis Robert homered among his two hits to power the host Chicago White Sox to a 9-3 victory against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.
Chicago (83-61) narrowed to seven its magic number to clinch the American League Central title behind a 13-hit attack. After falling behind 1-0 on Phil Gosselin's first-inning home run against Lucas Giolito, the White Sox responded with six unanswered runs over the second and third innings.
Robert started the spurt with a solo home run against Angels starter Packy Naughton in the second, while Sheets punctuated a four-run, third-inning outburst with his blast off reliever Andrew Wantz. Sheets finished a triple short of the cycle.
Leury Garcia and Cesar Hernandez both added two hits and an RBI for Chicago. Leadoff hitter Tim Anderson, reinstated from the 10-day injured list before the game after recovering from a left hamstring strain, went 1-for-5. Yoan Moncada added a hit for the White Sox to extend his on-base streak to 24 games.
Giolito, who last pitched Aug. 31 as he also contended with hamstring issues, returned from the injured list to throw four innings of three-run, three-hit ball. He walked two and struck out eight.
Jared Walsh hit a two-run homer against Giolito in the fourth to draw the Angels within 6-3.
Los Angeles (70-74) loaded the bases in three subsequent innings but was unable to score. Luis Rengifo struck out to end the threat in the fifth before David Fletcher rolled into an inning-ending double play in the sixth. Juan Lagares grounded into a double play to end the eighth.
Aaron Bummer (3-5) earned the victory, striking out one in a scoreless seventh. Five White Sox relievers followed Giolito with five innings of no-run, three-hit ball.
Naughton (0-2) allowed four runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings with one walk and two strikeouts.
Angels outfielder Jo Adell, who did not play, remains day-to-day with hip and backside soreness. Adell was injured upon colliding with the left field wall during Saturday's game in Houston, and he hasn't played since.
--Field Level Media
LA Angels | Chi. White Sox | |
Packy Naughton | Player | Lucas Giolito |
Loss | W/L | No Decision |
2.2 | IP | 4.0 |
2 | Strikeouts | 8 |
6 | Hits | 3 |
13.50 | ERA | 6.75 |
LA Angels | Chi. White Sox | |
Jared Walsh | Player | Gavin Sheets |
1 | Hits | 3 |
2 | RBI | 4 |
1 | HR | 1 |
4 | TB | 7 |
.333 | Avg | .750 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
LA Angels | 6 | 2 | 12 | .188 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Chi. White Sox | 13 | 2 | 22 | .382 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 |