Sox beat Angels 5-1
CHICAGO - Danny Mendick hit his first career home run, Jose Abreu got his 31st of the season, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-1 on Sunday.
Mendick, Matt Skole and James McCann had two hits apiece for the White Sox, who avoided a three-game sweep.
Michael Hermosillo had two hits in the ninth spot for the Angels, who finished with five hits without the injured Mike Trout and have lost 17 of their last 22 road games. Mendick, who made his major league debut Tuesday, hit a solo shot in the fifth to give the White Sox a 3-1 lead. He started at shortstop in place of Tim Anderson, who began the day leading the AL in batting average but had a planned day off.
Yolmer Sanchez had an RBI single in the sixth and Ryan Cordell added a sacrifice fly in the seventh to extend the White Sox lead.
Josh Osich (2-0) threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings to pick up the victory. He combined with two other relievers to limit the Angels to one hit in 5 2/3 shutout innings. Right fielder Cordell fell into the net making a catch in the ninth.
Los Angeles used six relievers.
Abreu hit a solo shot an estimated 462 feet to put the White Sox ahead in the third. His career-high 112 RBIs lead the AL.
Jaime Barria (4-8) allowed both home runs in 4 1/3 innings for the Angels, but hasn't won since July 24.
Shohei Ohtani singled to drive in the Angels' run in the first. He is 12 for 28 with nine RBIs in seven games against the White Sox this season. He went 1 for 4 with three strikeouts after going 3 for 5 with a career-high five RBIs on Saturday.
McCann's RBI single tied it 1-1 in the bottom of the first. Opener Noe Ramirez recorded just two outs.
The Angels left the bases loaded in the first and second innings. Kevan Smith struck out to end the first before Ohtani struck out and Albert Pujols hit a fly ball to conclude the second.
Dylan Cease allowed a run and struck out four but walked five and threw 88 pitches in 3 1/3 innings for the White Sox, who had lost nine of 11.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: OF Trout (right toe soreness) was scratched from the lineup. He was available to pinch hit. "There really wasn't a ton of improvement overnight," manager Brad Ausmus said. "For some reason, sometimes he can come back the next day and it feels fine and other times it takes a little longer for the soreness to get out of there." ... OF Justin Upton (calf tightness) was held out of the lineup due to the rainy conditions. ... INF Tommy La Stella (broken right tibia) has soreness in his leg, Ausmus said. La Stella has been taking live batting practice, fielding groundballs and throwing. The Angels have no timetable for his return. ... C Max Stassi (side) sat out the series and will get evaluated when the Angels return home Monday. ... SS Andrelton Simmons had a planned day off.
White Sox: SS Anderson began Sunday with a .334 average, six points ahead of DJ LeMahieu of the New York Yankees in the AL batting race. ... Manager Rick Renteria (shoulder surgery) is expected to return Tuesday. Bench coach Joe McEwing, who is leading the team, said Renteria will not throw batting practice because his arm is in a sling. UP NEXT Angels: LHP Patrick Sandoval (0-2, 4.91 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday against visiting Cleveland and RHP Shane Bieber (13-7, 3.24). Sandoval has a 2.89 ERA at home. White Sox: After a day off, RHP Ivan Nova (9-12, 4.69) is scheduled to start against visiting Kansas City and RHP Jakob Junis (9-12, 4.94) on Tuesday. Nova is 5-3 with a 2.40 ERA in his last nine starts.