Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Jose Abreu finished 3-for-5 with two runs
scored and three more batted in as the Chicago Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox used two five-run
innings to beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 11-5, in the first test of a three-
game set.
Adam Dunn and Dayan Viciedo drove in two runs each for the Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox, who won
for just the third time in their last nine attempts. Alexei Ramirez crossed
the plate three times and Conor Gillaspie added an RBI double.
Hector Noesi (7-8) gave up five runs in five innings, but was backed by plenty
of run support on his way to the victory.
Melky Cabrera hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays, who have dropped their
seventh straight road game for the second time this season. Jose Reyes picked
up an RBI with a sacrifice fly and Adam Lind had an RBI single.
Toronto's Marcus Stroman (7-4) gave up five runs while recording only two outs
before being removed in the first inning. The rookie surrendered five hits in
the Blue Jays' 10th loss in 13 August games.
Edwin Encarnacion finished 0-for-4 with one strikeout in his first game back
with the Jays since straining his right quadriceps muscle against Oakland on
July 5.
The Blue Jays wasted no time getting on the board. Reyes hit a lead-off
single, followed by a Cabrera pop out in foul territory. Jose Bautista walked
to put runners on first and second, but Encarnacion struck out. Lind lofted
one into shallow left-center field that dropped for a single and scored Reyes,
putting the Blue Jays up 1-0 in the first.
"In the first inning, they get that one run and then he settles down
Somewhat," Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Noesi. "We did a good job
of minimizing the damage tonight."
The Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox responded with five runs in their half of the first. Alejandro
De Aza opened the inning with a double and Ramirez took first after getting
hit in the hand by a fastball. The runners moved up on a balk by Stroman, then
Abreu singled on a line drive to right field, scoring De Aza and sending
Ramirez to third. Dunn grounded out, but Ramirez scored on the play. Viciedo
grounded one down the right-field line to plate Abreu and Gillaspie's line-
drive double to right pushed Viciedo across for the fourth run.
Stroman struck out Tyler Flowers for the second out of the inning, but gave up
a single to Jordan Danks before being replaced by Chad Jenkins, who got Gordon
Beckham to ground out to end the inning.
Toronto pulled within one in the second. A double by Colby Rasmus and a single
by Munenori Kawasaki put runners on the corners before Reyes hit a fly ball to
center, deep enough to score Rasmus. Cabrera smacked one over the wall in
right field to make the score 5-4.
"They take that 5-1 lead, then we strike back," said Blue Jays manager John
Gibbons. "We were right there until the fifth and then they open it right back
up."
Chicago stretched the lead to two. Ramirez singled and Dunn moved him to third
with a single of his own. Viciedo hit a soft fly ball to right that scored
Ramirez. Gillaspie followed with a ground ball to left, loading the bases, but
Flowers struck out on a foul tip to end the third.
The Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox exploded for another five run inning in the fifth. Six
consecutive singles to start the frame scored four runs. Todd Redmond, who
stayed on the mound after getting the final two outs of the fourth, threw a
wild pitch allowing Abreu to score. Viciedo walked and Redmond was removed
before being able to get an out in the inning. Dustin McGowan took over and
retired the next three batters.
Lind and Dioner Navarro hit back-to-back singles in the sixth and Rasmus
walked to load the bases for Toronto. Valencia grounded into a double play,
but Lind scored to make it 11-5.