Miguel Vargas and Mike Tauchman hit back-to-back home runs to spark a four-run first inning, which propelled the Chicago White Sox to a 7-2 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon.
Vargas and Tauchman each finished with two hits and three RBIs to help the White Sox earn their first series sweep of the season. Chicago was the only remaining team in the majors that had not swept a series this season.
The Pirates sustained their third loss in a row and 11th in their past 12 games – marking their worst stretch of the season.
Chicago’s bats backed up a quality start from Aaron Civale (2-6), who pitched six innings and gave up one unearned run on three hits and one walk while striking out six.
Nick Gonzales blooped a double to left field and then reached third on an errant throw by Michael A. Taylor to start the second. Gonzales, who also walked twice and drove in a run in the ninth on a grounder, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Oneil Cruz.
Spencer Horwitz, Andrew McCutchen and Ke’Bryan Hayes had the only other hits for the Pirates.
The White Sox’s 27 runs for the series were the most in a three-game span this season, and Chicago’s three consecutive victories ties its longest winning streak this year. Chase Meidroth and Taylor also had two hits.
Nine of the White Sox’s 10 hits came off Pirates starter Andrew Heaney (4-9), who lasted four-plus innings and matched a season-high seven runs allowed for the third time in his past five starts.
Heaney has allowed six home runs combined in his past two starts and three appearances in July, spanning nine innings.
Vargas’ three-run blast with one out in the first gave the White Sox a quick advantage. Tauchman then followed with a 429-foot solo homer which landed in the Allegheny River past the right field stands. Tauchman became the second White Sox player to hit a ball into the river and first since Jim Thome on June 29, 2006.
Tauchman drove in two more runs in the fifth on a double off the wall in center field. On the play, Cruz crashed into the fence against his left shoulder and was looked at by the Pirates trainer, but remained in the game.
–Field Level Media
