The Chicago White Sox had some shaky defensive moments in the second inning Friday against the Houston Astros.
Brendan Rodgers hit a grounder to shortstop Chase Meidroth for what should have been a routine double play. Meidroth tossed the ball to Lenyn Sosa, who was standing on second. But the second baseman dropped the ball.
It was the second error of the inning for the Sox as the Astros loaded the bases with one out.
Jonathan Cannon made sure the miscues didn’t lead to any damage. The right-hander got Cam Smith to hit a soft liner to Sosa. Jake Meyers followed by grounding into a force out as Cannon escaped trouble without allowing a run.
“Those guys picked me up more times than I can remember, so being able to pick them up definitely was a positive there,” Cannon said.
Cannon allowed two runs on nine hits in six innings as the Sox defeated the Astros 7-3 in front of 13,866 at Rate Field. He struck out five and did not allow a walk.
“We have seen that with him before,” manager Will Venable said. “He’s able to battle through adversity and able to keep his composure and continue to execute pitches.”
Offensively, Meidroth singled twice, drove in one and scored once. And Luis Robert Jr. hit a solo home run — the 500th hit of his career — as the Sox won while debuting their new City Connect uniforms inspired by the Chicago Bulls.
“They look good and we played well so let’s keep going,” Venable said.
Cannon also gave the uniforms a glowing review.
“It’s just different from all the other City Connects we’ve seen,” he said. “It’s really cool. It just pays homage to the Bulls and the city. All the other gear that goes with it, the jacket, the sweatshirts, all the hats we had, it’s really, really cool what they did. They did a really good job.”
As did Cannon, who built on a strong performance in his last outing when he allowed three runs in 7 2/3 innings after entering in the second against the Athletics on April 26 in West Sacramento, Calif.
“I sat here and told you guys a couple of weeks ago, the stuff was there, it was just about limiting the free passes and really just attacking guys,” Cannon said. “No walks today … and that allows those singles just to be singles and now you have the chance to get out of it rather than a run coming around to score with the walk there. Just throwing strikes and getting ahead has been the key for me.”
In addition to working out of the jam in the second, Cannon made his way through traffic throughout Friday’s outing.
Leading 2-0 in the fourth, he surrendered a run-scoring double with one out to Yainer Diaz. Cannon struck out Rodgers and Smith grounded out to third as the Sox remained ahead.
Robert homered in the fifth.
“It’s a good milestone, another step forward in my career here in the U.S.,” Robert said through an interpreter. “It feels good.”
Robert added the fact the 500th hit was a home run “made it a little more special.”
Edgar Quero contributed a run-scoring single later in the inning. Quero had two hits and two RBIs.
“It’s just trying to see the ball, hit the ball,” Quero said. “Especially, taking the pitch, swinging at good pitches, trying to get on base.”
Cannon gave up three singles in the sixth, the last one bringing in a run. But Miguel Vargas cut off left fielder Brooks Baldwin’s throw to the plate and fired to second to get Rodgers, who had drifted too far from the bag, for the final out.
“Vargy picked me up in the sixth inning, definitely a great cutoff to get them at second, that was huge,” Cannon said.
The Sox tacked on three in the eighth and won their second straight for just the second time this season.
“We’ve definitely seen flashes of it in April,” Cannon said. “Obviously the record (9-23) doesn’t show exactly how we’ve been playing, but I think we’ve been really, really close. To see us put up a three-spot there in the eighth inning is huge. That’s been the difference, the big two-out hits that we had and then the defense behind us, especially late in the game.”
