Lopez fights through discomfort, gets victory
DETROIT — By the books, it wasn’t a quality start.
Reynaldo Lopez allowed four runs and struck out one batter in seven innings in the White Sox’ 10- 4 victory Saturday against the Tigers at Comerica Park, but give the 23- year- old right- hander a merit badge for staying power after he allowed three runs in the second inning.
Fighting an upper- respiratory issue that has been making the rounds in the Sox’ clubhouse, Lopez ( 2- 3, 4.84 ERA) allowed one run in his last five innings, holding the Tigers to four hits after they got him for those three runs in the second.
“Under the circumstances, I thought it was a very good outing,’’ Lopez said. “I was proud of myself for fighting through the discomfort.’’
Lopez said he lost focus during the second inning because of it and was upset with himself. Nick Castellanos extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a ground- rule double, Jeimer Candelario walked, James McCann tripled to drive in two and Tyler Collins hit a sacrifice fly to cut the Sox’ 6- 0 lead in half.
A talk from third baseman Yolmer Sanchez helped him regroup, Lopez said.
“After the second, I stayed focused and executed my pitches,’’ Lopez said.
Hits keep on coming
The Sox, who had 25 hits in the series opener Thursday, banged out 17 more and scored in double digits for the fourth time in eight games.
Leading the hit parade was shortstop Tim Anderson, who went 4- for- 5 for the first four- hit game of his career, scored two runs and stole two bases. Anderson has hit in eight consecutive games, going a torrid 19- for- 39 during that stretch.
“Just playing like my hair’s on fire,’’ Anderson said.
Matt Davidson connected on his 25th homer against righthander Joe Jimenez, driving in his 63rd run, and Nicky Delmonico hit his eighth homer in the first inning against former Sox prospect Myles Jaye.
Delmonico, Jose Abreu and Yoan Moncada each drove in two runs, Abreu hiking his RBI total to 97. Moncada ( 2- for- 6) raised his average to .233 and extended his hitting streak to eight games. Alen Hanson was 2- for- 2 with three runs scored.
Avisail Garcia extended his hitting streak to nine games with two singles to go with a walk, raising his batting average to .335.
Adjustment time for Engel
Center fielder Adam Engel, who has impressed with his glove while struggling at bat (. 187/. 255/. 321), will push the reset button at the plate, manager Rick Renteria said.
One of the adjustments Engel will make is to choke up “to see if that helps you manipulate the barrel to the baseball a little more to cut down on strikeouts,’’ Renteria said.
Engel might be in for some changes in his stance and the posi- tion of his hands.
“At some point, you’ve got to go, ‘ OK, we need to make adjustments,’ ’’ Renteria said.
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