White Sox win at Blue Jays, take Series early

Mike Pelfrey #50 of the Chicago White Sox delivers a pitch in the second inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 17, 2017 in Toronto, Canada.

(June 17, 2017 - Source: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images North America)

The Chicago White Sox (31-36) win at the Toronto Blue Jays (32-35) 5-2 and take the first two games of their three-game series. The White Sox have now won five of their last six games.

Chicago took the lead in the second inning with back-to-back one-out home runs from DH Todd Frazier (11th of the season) and 3B Matt Davidson (15th).

The Blue Jays got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame. DH Kendrys Morales led off with a single and SS Troy Tulowitzki singled with one out. With two outs 2B Ryan Goins hit a ground rule double, which drove in Kendrys Morales but it likely cost Toronto another run.

The White Sox extended their lead in the sixth inning with a leadoff home run from Jose Abreu. It was his 11th long ball of the year.

Chicago’s SP Mike Pelfrey (3-5) pitched 6 innings, allowing 4 hits and 1 earned run while striking out 5. His ERA and WHIP improved to 3.56 and 1.26, respectively.

Toronto’s SP Marcus Stroman (7-3) went 7 innings, giving up 6 hits, 1 walk and 3 earned runs while fanning 5. He now has a 3.15 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP on the season.

The Blue Jays made it a one-run game in the seventh. With one out 1B Justin Smoak singled, Troy Tulowitzki walked and LF Dwight Smith Jr. singled to record the first RBI of his MLB career.

The White Sox got the run back in the eighth inning. CF Alen Hanson led off with a single and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by LF Melky Cabrera. He moved on to third base on a flyout from Jose Abreu and eventually came home when Todd Frazier reached on a fielding error by 3B Josh Donaldson.

In the ninth Chicago scored an insurance run. SS Tim Anderson led off the inning with a double and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by C Omar Narvaez. 2B Yolmer Sanchez then tried to bunt in Tim Anderson but RP Aaron Loup’s was off target, enabling Sanchez to reach and Tim Anderson to score.

CL David Robertson pitched a perfect inning to earn his 11th save of the year. He now posts a 3.20 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP.

Matt Davidson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run. He is batting .263 and has 26 runs 15 HR and 36 RBI on the season.