Lenyn Sosa’s seventh-inning single put the Chicago White Sox up for good as the hosts’ seven-run outburst in that frame led to a 9-3 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.
Sosa’s hit off Max Lazar was one of seven to start the inning and eight overall in the decisive frame. Miguel Vargas and Edgar Quero followed with three-run homers to help Chicago take the rubber match of the three-game series.
The White Sox relied on the long ball for most of their offense, blasting five homers, as Kyle Teel and Colson Montgomery hit solo shots in the second and fourth innings, respectively.
Mike Tauchman and Luis Robert Jr. each had three hits for Chicago, which plated eight of its nine runs via the long ball.
Sosa entered the game in the top of the sixth after starting second baseman Chase Meidroth was hit by a pitch on his right thumb in the bottom of the fifth. The team later announced Meidroth as day-to-day.
Late Wednesday morning, the White Sox announced Tyler Alexander would get the start instead of Adrian Houser, who has been the subject of trade rumors. The 31-year-old lefthander retired the first eight batters he faced, but he encountered trouble in the fourth as the Phillies got their second turn at him.
Bryce Harper’s fourth-inning double was Philadelphia’s first hit, and he scored on Nick Castellanos’ single to tie the game. Brandon Marsh’s single chased Alexander, and Otto Kemp’s base hit off reliever Mike Vasil gave the Phillies a brief one-run lead.
After Chicago went ahead 9-2 with that seventh-inning eruption, the Phillies got one back in the top of the ninth as Marsh blasted a home run to right field.
The start of Wednesday’s game, the final of the three between the two teams, was delayed by more than 2-½ hours due to storms in the area.
–Field Level Media