Lawrie back to life with key HR and more
The White Sox hadn’t heard a peep out of Brett Lawrie for a while, with two hits in his previous 23 at- bats over his last six games. That didn’t last long. The Sox’ high- energy source broke out with a tiebreaking threerun homer against Mike Clevinger and reached base five times in the Sox’ 7- 6 victory against the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of a doubleheader Monday. The homer was Lawrie’s sixth but his first at U. S. Cellular Field.
“The way he was swinging it today, you liked the way it was coming off his bat,” manager Robin Ventura said.
Lawrie also singled, stole a base and scored a run in the fourth inning. And he matched a career high with three walks in Game 1, hiking his walk total to 22, only six fewer than he drew all of last season with the Oakland Athletics.
He went 0- for- 3 but walked again in the bottom of the ninth in Game 2, a 5- 1 loss for the Sox.
The homer in Game 1 came on a 3- 2 fastball with two outs in the fifth with Jose Abreu and Todd Frazier on base.
“Itwas great just to be able to put some runs on the board for the boys and give us a little breathing room,” said Lawrie, the designated hitter in Game 1.
The Sox extended the lead to 7- 3 when Austin Adams walked Austin Jackson with the bases loaded in the seventh. The Indians scored three in the eighth against Zach Duke and Matt Albers, who allowed a homer— to Jose Ramirez — for the fourth time since May 5.
David Robertson gave up a leadoff walk in the ninth but struck out Marlon Byrd and Michael Martinez before retiring Carlos Santana on a ground ball with the tying run on second for his 12th save.
Smokin’ Todd Frazier
Todd Frazier’s home run in the first inning of Game 1 was his American League- leading 14th. He also singled and walked twice in the opener and singled and doubled in his first two at- bats of Game 2.
Through Game 1, Frazier was batting .340 with seven homers, 16 RBI and 13 runs scored in his last 14 games.
Latos, for thewin
After four straight starts without going past 5⅓ innings, Mat Latos ( 6- 1) recorded his first quality start since April 24. He allowed three runs, five hits and one walk while striking out four.
Latos said he had “a little bit of everything” going for him: “Fastball, slider, two- seamer and changeup — threw a couple of really good changeups against some key guys.”
This and that
Tuesday’s starter, Chris Sale, ( 9- 0, 1.58 ERA), who has won 10 consecutive starts dating to his last one of 2015, is 5- 6 with a 3.69 ERA lifetime against the Indians.
Jackson is 14- for- 41 (. 341) with runners in scoring position.
Avisail Garcia was back at DH in Game 2 on Monday after not playing the previous three games.
Right- hander Tommy Kahnle was recalled from Class AAA Charlotte as the 26th player for the doubleheader. Erik Johnson, who started Game 2 and gave up three homers, including one by former Sox Juan Uribe, was recalled from Charlotte while infielder Carlos Sanchez was optioned there after the first game.