Abreu’s 2-run double helps White Sox sweep Red Sox
BOSTON — Dallas Keuchel halted his three-start losing streak with six solid innings, Jose Abreu hit a two-run double and the Chicago White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox 3-2 Sunday for their season-high sixth straight victory.
Leury Garcia added an RBI single for the White Sox (14-13), who moved over .500 for the first time since April 20 and completed a 5-0 road trip, including three wins at Fenway Park.
Christian Vazquez had an RBI single for Boston (10-19), which has lost a season-most five straight and 14 of 18.
Keuchel (2-3) allowed two runs on eight hits, fanning five and walking one after posting a 9.90 ERA in his previous three starts.
The game started at 11:38 a.m., an unusual start time as part of an experiment by Major League Baseball for streaming broadcasts.
“I knew it was going to be interesting,” Keuchel said. “I got to bed before 11 (Saturday night) but it was like the internal clock was so worried about getting up and getting ready to get the routine going. I’m pretty sure I woke up like five, six times to not want to oversleep.”
Rookie left-hander Bennett Sousa got pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki on a fly to center for the final out, recording his first big league save with the potential tying run at second. Regular closer Liam Hendriks was unavailable due to his recent workload.
“As soon as it was in the air, I knew it was going to be an out because of the wind,” said a smiling Sousa. “I think I gave (catcher) Reese (McGuire) a big hug.” He said he got the ball. Chicago manager Tony La Russa went to Sousa to avoid having left-handed batter Jackie Bradley Jr. face a righty.
“It’s up to Sousa to do a job and he did it,” Chicago manager Tony La Russa said. “Nothing bigger than Dallas pitching six innings with two runs, that’s the biggest.”
Abreu, who had a goahead double in Saturday’s 3-1 comeback victory, sent his double down the leftfield line in the third against fill-in starter Tanner Houck (2-3) after Garcia’s hit pushed Chicago in front.
J.D. Martinez had a runscoring groundout and Vazquez followed with his RBI single for Boston in the sixth.
“I’m very surprised,” Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers said through an interpreter of the team’s struggles. “I know the quality of team that we have, so I know in the end everything is going to turn out and we’re going to get to our full potential. Right now, it’s not going our way.”
Houck gave up three runs in 22⁄3 innings after replacing scheduled starter Michael Wacha. Wacha was placed on the 15-day injured list after experiencing soreness on his left side after his last bullpen session.