Altherr drives in two, scores one to key 5-3 win over White Sox
CHICAGO >> Tommy Joseph and Cesar Hernandez homered to back Jerod Eickhoff, and the struggling Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago White Sox 5-3 on Wednesday night.
Philadelphia showed some spark at the plate and on the mound after getting outscored a combined 18-1 over the previous two games against St. Louis and Chicago. The Phillies came away with the win after dropping five of seven and salvaged a two-game split in their first trip to Chicago’s South Side since 2004.
Joseph and Hernandez both had two hits and went deep against James Shields (5-16). Aaron Altherr added two RBI singles.
Eickhoff (9-12) did his part, allowing two runs and four hits over six innings.
Jeanmar Gomez worked the ninth for his 34th save in 38 chances.
He gave up an RBI single to Avisail Garcia before Dioner Navarro grounded out with run- ners on first and third to end the game.
The White Sox announced hours before the game that their ballpark is getting a new name. U.S. Cellular Field will be called Guaranteed Rate Field starting in November under a 13-year deal with the mortgage company.
But while a major change is coming, things basically remained the same for a team with a losing record this year and one playoff appearance since winning the 2005 World Series.
Shields set a career high with his 16th loss.
The veteran righthander gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings.
The home runs by Joseph and Hernandez brought his total to 31 this season and 22 since the White Sox acquired him from San Diego on June 4.
Shields is 0-4 with a 13.95 ERA in five starts this month after posting a 1.78 ERA over five outings in July.
Navarro hit a two-run homer in the sixth. But that was all the scoring against Eickhoff, who improved to 3-0 in his past five starts.
TRAINER’S ROOM
PHILLIES >> INF Andres Blanco (broken finger) is eyeing a Sept. 1 return. WHITE SOX >> 2B Brett Lawrie had an MRI on his left knee and hip, though manager Robin Ventura did not have the results. Lawrie initially was placed on the DL because of a hamstring issue but returned from his rehab assignment because of a setback.
UP NEXT
PHILLIES >> The Phillies open a three-game series at the Mets on Friday, with LHP Adam Morgan (1-7, 6.21 ERA) starting for Philadelphia and RHP Bartolo Colon (11-7, 3.36) for New York. WHITE SOX >> RHP Anthony Ranaudo (1-1, 9.42) makes his third start for the White Sox as Chicago opens a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners.