HOUSTON (AP) - The Chicago White Sox couldn’t get anything going early on Friday night against the Houston Astros.
One big swing by Adam Dunn changed that and the White Sox cruised to a 7-2 win over the Houston Astros.
Dunn hit a three-run home run and Conor Gillaspie added two RBIs to lead the White Sox.
The White Sox trailed by two and had managed just one hit off of Collin McHugh (2-2) through the five innings before Dunn launched his soaring homer into the second deck in right field with one out in the sixth to put Chicago on top.
“That guy it just seemed like he was cruising,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “He was around the zone, a good curveball and that’s what really kept everybody off-balance. You just stick with it. Dunn’s homer … but then after that we put some stuff together to put it away.”
White Sox starter Jose Quintana (2-3) allowed two runs on seven hits in five innings for his first win since April 8. He’s pitched well between wins, but Chicago has had trouble scoring in his starts.
“He’s done a lot for us to keep us in games and he hasn’t won any games,” Ventura said. “He’s notorious for coming out with a no-decision, so it was nice for us to get some runs after that and get him a win, because he’s done a lot of work for us that doesn’t go in the win column all the time for him.”
Dunn was happy he could help Quintana get a win after he had three no-decisions and three losses since his last victory. Quintana has been plagued by no-decisions in his career and set an American League record last season with 17.
“It seems like every single game that he pitches we can’t offensively get it going,” Dunn said. “Then when we do, it’s when he’s out of the game. He obviously wasn’t as sharp as he has been lately or even since he’s been up. But getting him that win was big.”
Tyler Flowers had an RBI in the sixth and Gillaspie drove in two runs with a double in Chicago’s three-run eighth inning.
Rookie George Springer and Jason Castro each had an RBI for the Astros. Chris Carter added a double and a single to extend his hitting streak to a season-high six games. He has improved in May after hitting just .153 in April.
McHugh allowed four runs on three hits, striking out seven in 5 1-3 innings for his second straight loss after starting the season 2-0.
“Coming in, from the get-go, I knew my stuff was good, but my command was spotty at best,” McHugh said. “And it came back to bite me in that inning.”
Dunn, who was 0 for 11 before his home run, added a double in the ninth inning.
“He’s got power with anybody in the league,” Ventura said. “If he gets it it’s going to go. It’s good. He’s walking and hitting balls hard so it’s a good night for him.”
Jonathan Villar and Jose Altuve hit consecutive singles to start Houston’s fifth inning and Villar advanced to third on an error by Dayan Viciedo on Altuve’s hit. Villar scored on a groundout by Springer to put the Astros up 1-0.
Castro’s two-out single made it 2-0. Matt Dominguez singled to put runners at first and second, but Quintana retired Jesus Guzman on a liner to center to limit the damage.
Alejandro De Aza singled to start the third inning for Chicago’s first hit and Moises Sierra walked with one out. McHugh then retired nine of the next 10 batters, with the only baserunner coming on a walk by Flowers with two outs in the fifth.
Gillaspie walked with one out in the sixth before McHugh plunked Jose Abreu. Dunn’s sixth homer of the season and the 446th of his career came next to give Chicago the lead.
After the homer by Dunn, Viciedo doubled to chase McHugh. He was replaced by Josh Zeid, who intentionally walked De Aza with two outs before the RBI single by Flowers.
NOTES: The series continues Saturday when Houston’s Jarred Cosart opposes Hector Noesi. … Ventura planned to give Abreu a day off to rest his sore left ankle. But Abreu didn’t want to sit out so Ventura played him at designated hitter Friday night.
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