CHICAGO (AP) - Yonder Alonso is dealing with his tough start by staying positive and trying to make the most of every day.
A successful performance against his former team certainly helps.
Alonso and José Abreu each hit a two-run homer, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 10-4 on Thursday night for their season-high fourth straight victory.
Alonso also doubled and scored on Eloy Jiménez’s two-run double, helping Chicago move within one game of Cleveland for second place in the AL Central. Jiménez and Leury García each had three hits, and Manny Bañuelos (3-4) pitched 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball for his first win in a month.
“We have a good atmosphere here,” Abreu said through a translator. “We go out every day, try to win games, try to do our best. Try to fight, and at the same time, try to have fun.”
With two outs and Abreu on first in the third, Alonso drove a 1-1 pitch from Carlos Carrasco over the wall in right-center to give the White Sox a 4-2 lead. It was Alonso’s first homer since May 12 and No. 7 on the year.
The 32-year-old Alonso was acquired in a December trade with Cleveland for minor league outfielder Alex Call. Alonso hit .250 with 23 homers and 83 RBIs last season, but is batting a career-low .180 through 54 games in his first year with Chicago.
“I know the type of player that I am. I know the type of hitter that I am,” Alonso said, “and I know eventually it will turn.”
Carrasco (4-6) matched a season high by allowing six runs and 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings in his third consecutive loss. The right-hander had enjoyed great success versus Chicago since 2017, going 7-1 with a 1.09 ERA in his previous 10 appearances against the White Sox, including a 2-0 record and 12 scoreless innings over two starts this year.
“We’re going to have some ups and downs, a lot,” Carrasco said. “This is a long season. I have, maybe like 24 more starts, but at least we learn something from each start. It’s frustrating. I worked so hard to get in every start and everything is going a different way.”
Carrasco allowed García’s leadoff single in the seventh and struck out Yoán Moncada before he was replaced by Dan Otero. Abreu greeted the reliever with a drive to left for his team-high 15th homer , making it 7-3 White Sox.
Jordan Luplow went deep for Cleveland, and Carlos Santana drove in two runs in the opener of a four-game series. Jason Kipnis finished with two hits after he was robbed by Ryan Cordell’s diving play on his sinking liner to right in the ninth.
Luplow led off the sixth with a drive to center for his fourth homer off Bañuelos this season. Five of Luplow’s seven homers this year have come against the White Sox.
“I just think my approach plays into what he’s throwing,” Luplow said of his success against Bañuelos.
WINNING AGAIN
Bañuelos allowed five hits, struck out three and walked three in his first win since April 29. The left-hander was 0-4 with a 14.40 ERA in his previous four starts.
“Manny did a nice job for us,” manager Rick Renteria said. “Kept us in the ballgame. He had a few walks there but that’s a pretty good club and he did a nice job of maneuvering through some traffic.”
LOST IN THE SHUFFLE
Indians catcher Roberto Pérez threw out two runners attempting to steal second. It was the fourth time in his career that he cut down at least two runners attempting to steal in a single game.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: LF Oscar Mercado was shaken up after he was hit on his right leg by a pitch in the third, but he stayed in the game. … OF Tyler Naquin (left calf strain) continued his rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus, homering for the second straight day during the Clippers’ 12-5 victory over Norfolk. He is expected to play again Saturday and then take Sunday off.
UP NEXT
Cleveland right-hander Trevor Bauer (4-4, 3.99 ERA) looks to get back on track when the series resumes Friday night. Bauer has struggled this month, going 0-3 with a 6.52 ERA in his last five starts. Dylan Covey (0-4, 5.47 ERA) pitches for Chicago. The 27-year-old right-hander is 0-3 with a 5.75 ERA in his last four outings.
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Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap
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