Luis Robert Jr. hit a two-run home run, Tyler Alexander pitched four scoreless relief innings and the visiting Chicago White Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 on Friday night.
Andrew Benintendi added a solo shot and had two RBIs while Josh Rojas contributed two RBIs for the White Sox, who ended an eight-game losing streak by taking the opener of a three-game series.
Bo Bichette had three hits and an RBI for the Blue Jays, who have lost two in a row.
Spencer Turnbull (1-1) was making his first start as a Blue Jay and his first pitch to Benintendi with one out in the first was a center-cut fastball that was hit over the right field wall.
Grant Taylor was the White Sox’ opener, making his first major league start, and pitched one perfect inning. Scheduled starter Davis Martin was put on the injured list with a right forearm strain.
Taylor was replaced by Alexander (4-7), who scattered four hits with two strikeouts.
Chicago added two runs in the second. Lenyn Sosa tripled against the center field wall on a drive that eluded Jonatan Clase and right fielder Addison Barger had trouble retrieving the ball. Austin Slater hit a two-out RBI single, Rojas singled, Chase Meidroth walked and Benintendi hit an RBI single to right. Rojas also tried to score on the hit but was thrown out at home.
Miguel Vargas walked to open the third. Mason Fluharty replaced Turnbull, and one out later, Robert hit a mammoth homer to left on a 1-0 sweeper.
Turnbull allowed four runs, five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in his two-plus innings, but Chicago was not finished in the third. Sosa and Slater walked and Rojas slammed a two-run double to the right field wall beyond Barger’s leap.
Toronto loaded the bases with one out in the fifth on three singles, but Tyler Heineman grounded into a double play.
Chicago’s Wikelman Gonzalez made his major league debut in the seventh and allowed two walks and Bichette’s RBI single in the eighth. Gonzalez had two strikeouts over his two innings.
–Field Level Media
