Jose Altuve homered for the fourth time in three games, Michael Brantley and Abraham Toro also connected, and the Houston Astros beat the Chicago White Sox 10-2 on Thursday night.
Jose Urquidy (5-3) pitched seven strong innings to stifle Chicago's powerful lineup, backing a three-run shot by Brantley and a career-best four RBIs by Toro. Houston won its fourth straight.
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Jose Altuve homered for the fourth time in three games, Michael Brantley and Abraham Toro also connected, and the Houston Astros beat the Chicago White Sox 10-2 on Thursday night.
Toro, who entered the game without an RBI in six games this season, drove in two runs with a single during Houston’s four-run fourth and hit a two-run shot that pushed the lead to 10-2 in the seventh.
He settled down after Brantley’s homer and retired his next nine batters before getting into trouble in the fourth. He walked Yuli Gurriel to start the inning before plunking Yordan Alvarez.
Urquidy permitted four hits and two runs with five strikeouts. He retired 10 straight before Brian Goodwin opened the sixth with a double. Goodwin moved to third on a groundout by Tim Anderson for the second out and scored on a single by Adam Engel that made it 7-1.
White Sox: OF Adam Eaton was placed on the injured list with a strained right hamstring on Thursday. ... Burdi was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to take his spot on the roster.
Chicago’s Carlos Rodon (6-2, 1.89 ERA) will oppose Luis Garcia 5-4, 2.98 when the series continues on Friday night.
Houston Astros' Abraham Toro (13) celebrates with Yuli Gurriel after both scored on Toro's home run against the Chicago White Sox during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
There were two on in the first when Brantley knocked his homer off Dylan Cease (5-3) into the seats in right field.
Houston Astros' Michael Brantley (23) hits a three-run home run as Chicago White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal reaches for the pitch during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
Toro, who entered the game without an RBI in six games this season, drove in two runs with a single during Houston’s four-run fourth and hit a two-run shot that pushed the lead to 10-2 in the seventh.
Altuve homered off Matt Foster, a solo shot with one out in the sixth. He hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning against Texas on Tuesday night before slugging two homers in a win over the Rangers on Wednesday night.
Cease yielded four hits and a season-high seven runs — six earned — in 3 1/3 innings to tie his shortest start of the season.
Houston Astros' Michael Brantley, right, celebrates with third base coach Omar Lopez (22) after hitting a three-run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
He settled down after Brantley’s homer and retired his next nine batters before getting into trouble in the fourth. He walked Yuli Gurriel to start the inning before plunking Yordan Alvarez.
Carlos Correa’s ground-rule double scored Gurriel to make it 4-0. Toro’s single came next to put Houston up 6-0.
He stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Cease walked Jason Castro with one out to end his night. Zack Burdi took over, and Altuve scored Toro on a sacrifice fly.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Jose Urquidy throws against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
Urquidy permitted four hits and two runs with five strikeouts. He retired 10 straight before Brian Goodwin opened the sixth with a double. Goodwin moved to third on a groundout by Tim Anderson for the second out and scored on a single by Adam Engel that made it 7-1.
Yoán Moncada walked and a single by José Abreu scored another run to cut the lead to 7-2.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
White Sox: OF Adam Eaton was placed on the injured list with a strained right hamstring on Thursday. ... Burdi was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to take his spot on the roster.
Astros: 3B Alex Bregman was placed on the injured list with a strained left quadriceps after he was injured on Wednesday night. Manager Dusty Baker said there isn’t currently a timetable for his return. ... C Garrett Stubbs was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to take his roster spot.
UP NEXT
Houston Astros' Carlos Correa watches his RBI ground-rule double against the Chicago White Sox during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
Chicago’s Carlos Rodon (6-2, 1.89 ERA) will oppose Luis Garcia 5-4, 2.98 when the series continues on Friday night.
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Houston Astros' Jose Altuve (27) slides safely into second base as Chicago White Sox second baseman Danny Mendick reaches for the throw from third baseman Yoan Moncada during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Houston. Moncada was charged with a throwing error on the play. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
Houston Astros' Abraham Toro (13) celebrates with Yuli Gurriel after both scored on Toro's home run against the Chicago White Sox during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)