White Sox 6, Astros 3 (11 innings)
HOUSTON -- Geovany Soto cranked a two-run, tie-breaking double to right field in the top of the 11th inning as the Chicago White Sox claimed the opener of their three-game series with the Houston Astros 6-3 on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.
Soto, who entered in the eighth inning as a defensive replacement behind the plate, drove home second baseman Carlos Sanchez and center fielder Adam Eaton with his extra-base hit off Astros left-hander Tony Sipp. Soto entered the game batting just .190 while Sanchez, who drew a one-out walk off Astros righty Josh Fields (2-1) to initiate the rally, opened Friday batting .163 and was hitless in three prior at-bats.
Four White Sox (22-25) relievers combined to work five scoreless innings, with left-hander Dan Jennings (1-1) earning the win and right-hander David Robertson notching his 10th save. Houston (30-19), conversely, needed saeven relievers after starter Lance McCullers departed in the fifth inning.
Trailing 2-1, the Astros clawed their way to the lead with two runs in the sixth inning, with two White Sox errors playing a role. Houston second baseman Jose Altuve and left fielder Preston Tucker reached in succession to open the frame against Chicago left-hander Carlos Rodon, with Altuve scoring on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Chris Carter.
Tucker advanced to third base on an errant throw from left fielder Melky Cabrera, who attempted to nab Altuve at home for a second time, and later scored when third baseman Luis Valbuena hustled down the line on a ball hit to first baseman Jose Abreu. Rodon was pulled off the bag on the toss from Abreu, enabling Valbuena to reach with two outs and Tucker to score the go-ahead run, pushing the lead to a 3-2.
That lead was erased on the first pitch of the eighth inning when White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham greeted Astros right-hander Chad Qualls with his third home run of the season, a 390-foot blast to left.
Rodon, making his first appearance against the franchise that bypassed him in the draft last summer, faced just one batter above the minimum before Houston mounted a two-out rally in the fourth inning.
The White Sox chipped in defensively behind Rodon in the first and second innings.
Cabrera gunned down Astros second baseman Jose Altuve at the plate to close the first before second baseman Carlos Sanchez initiated a double play that erased Carter, who opened the second with a single to right.
Carter struck again in the fourth, slapping a single under the glove of third baseman Connor Gillaspie to score designated hitter Evan Gattis, who also singled for a second time before advancing to second on a passed ball. Carter pulled the Astros even at 1, but Chicago reclaimed its lead quickly.
Having scored an unearned run against Astros right-hander Lance McCullers in the third, the White Sox chased McCullers by loading the bases with one out in the fifth. Pinch-hitter Gordon Beckham greeted left-handed reliever Joe Thatcher with a sacrifice fly that scored Abreu, but the White Sox's rally stalled after one run.
NOTES: The Astros placed RHP Scott Feldman on the 15-day disabled list after he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Friday morning to repair a torn medial meniscus. Feldman sustained the injury Tuesday in Baltimore while fielding a ground ball. He is expected to miss approximately six weeks. ... Houston recalled RHP Michael Feliz from Double-A Corpus Christi to replace Feldman on the roster. ... White Sox RF Avisail Garcia participated in batting practice and fielding drills Friday and could return to the lineup Saturday. Garcia has been battling right knee inflammation for almost two weeks and has missed four games since being removed Monday against the Blue Jays. ... Astros LHP Brett Oberholtzer will be activated from the 15-day disabled list in time to start Monday night against Baltimore. Oberholtzer has made just one start this season while battling a reoccurring blister on his left index finger.