HOUSTON — Jose Altuve scored two runs, Yainer Diaz recorded his team-leading 68th RBI, Hunter Brown struck out six and the Houston Astros defeated the Chicago White Sox 6-1 on Saturday night.
Brown recorded his ninth consecutive good start, allowing one run in seven innings.
“He knows we can rely on him and that we want him to play far in the games,” said Astros manager Joe Espada. “He knows he has what it takes to be an A-man.”
Brown has made 13 consecutive starts where he has pitched six or more innings for Houston. This is only the second time this season he has pitched seven innings.
This is his 11th win of the year and a career high. Brown is 10-2 with a 2.33 ERA in his 14 starts since June 1. His 10 winning decisions during that span are a major league record.
“When you succeed, it feels good,” Brown said.
Trailing 1-0, the Astros (66-56) broke through in the third inning with a three-run inning against White Sox starter Chris Flexen. Flexen struck out the first seven batters he faced before rookie Shay Whitcomb got his first major league hit with a double.
“Honestly, I was pretty relaxed,” Whitcomb said. “It was good.”
Whitcomb finished his major league debut with 2-for-3, a double, a walk and a run scored. He is the 53rd player in Astros history to get a hit in his first at-bat.
Whitcomb and Mauricio Dubón scored after Altuve’s two-run single to center field. Houston scored another run when Yordan Alvarez brought Altuve home with a single to left field for his 66th RBI.
Houston extended its lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning with Dubón’s sacrifice fly.
Flexen (2-12) allowed four runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out one in four innings. He is 0-9 in his last 18 starts for the White Sox (30-94), and they haven’t won a single one.
“It’s frustrating, especially when you’re not getting far in the games,” Flexen said. “You keep fighting and trying to put in a solid performance, but you can’t. That’s the most frustrating part.”
Gavin Sheets was the only offensive player for the White Sox who were eliminated from the playoffs.
In the seventh inning, Diaz brought Altuve home with an infield single. Altuve finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Since July 24, Diaz has a batting average of .360 with 16 RBIs.
The Astros scored another point in the eighth inning on an errant pickoff attempt by Gus Varland that sailed over the glove of first baseman Andrew Vaughn, allowing Jake Meyers to trot in from third base and make it 6-1.
“They pitched well and we didn’t get the big hits when we needed them,” said Grady Sizemore, interim manager of the Chicago White Sox. “We threw some hard outs right at the guys, they got a lot of cheap hits and they swung their bats well, too. Sometimes it goes like that.”
TRAINING ROOM
White Sox: RHP Steven Wilson (lower back strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list… RHP Mike Clevinger (neck surgery) was placed on the 60-day injured list.
Astros: RHP Ryan Pressly (lower back strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list. Astros manager Joe Espada said he does not believe the injury is serious … OF Kyle Tucker (right shin contusion) participated in live on-field batting practice Saturday afternoon. … 3B Alex Bregman missed his second straight game due to elbow soreness.
Next
Houston LHP Framber Valdez (12-5, 3.38 ERA) will face White Sox LHP Ky Bush (0-1, 5.19 ERA) in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
