White Sox 4, Astros 1
CHICAGO -- Right-hander Vincent Velasquez scattered just three hits in five shutout innings in his major league debut but missed a shot at his first victory as the Chicago White Sox rallied for a 4-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
The win completed a three-game sweep for the White Sox (28-30) and sent the Astros (34-27) to their seventh straight loss.
White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana (3-6) earned the victory while allowing just one run on six hits over seven strong innings.
Velasquez, who jumped directly from Double-A Corpus Christi to make his first big league start, left with a 1-0 lead after he struck out five, walked four and threw 89 pitches.
But he had no decision as White Sox designated hitter Adam LaRoche greeted right-handed reliever Will Harris with a solo home run to right in the sixth to tie the game.
The White Sox took the lead in the seventh as catcher Geovany Soto slammed a first-pitch homer to left off Astros left-handed reliever Tony Sipp for a 2-1 lead.
Sipp (2-3) absorbed the loss after allowing one hit -- a home run -- plus a walk in his sole inning of work.
Chicago first baseman Jose Abreu added insurance runs in the eighth with his two-run homer to right off Houston right-handed reliever Pat Neshek. Abreu's 11th homer of the season drove in second baseman Carlos Sanchez.
A potential fifth run was overturned. Conor Gillaspie's two-out single to right off left hander Joe Thatcher drove in LaRoche for a 5-1 lead but replay officials ruled LaRoche was tagged at the plate by catcher Jason Castro.
White Sox right-handed reliever David Robinson worked a scoreless ninth for his 13th save.
Astros right fielder and leadoff batter George Springer had a career-high five hits in five at-bats. Abreu, LaRoche and center fielder J.B. Shuck each had two hits for Chicago.
In the second inning, center fielder Jake Marisnick's sacrifice fly drove in first baseman Chris Carter from third to give the Astros a 1-0 lead.
Houston also threatened in the first when second baseman Jose Altuve reached base on a fielder's choice, advanced to third on a throwing error on Preston Tucker's grounder and tried to score on designated hitter Evan Gattis' fielder's choice ground ball to third.
Altuve was out at home on the play.
The White Sox had runners in scoring position twice during the opening five innings but failed to advance on either occasion.
NOTES: The Astros officially called up RHP Vincent Velasquez from Double-A Corpus Christi in anticipation of Wednesday's start. He was the first pitcher to make his major-league debut as a starter against the White Sox this season. ... INF Jonathan Villar was optioned to Triple-A Fresno to make room for Velasquez. He was batting .263 through 38 games with one home run and seven RBIs. ... The Astros send LHP Brett Oberholtzer (0-1, 3.75 ERA) to the mound for Friday's home series opener against the Mariners. He has served two stints on the disabled list this season with a finger blister. ... White Sox veteran INF Gordon Beckham filled in for Alexei Ramirez in a rare start at shortstop. He has played third base in 23 other starts this year and just once at short. ... LHP John Danks (3-5, 5.17 ERA) makes his 12th start of the season and sixth on the road on Friday in the opener of a three-game weekend series at Tampa Bay. ... White Sox manager Robin Ventura will miss the series to attend the college graduation of his daughter, Madison. Bench coach Mark Parent will manage in Ventura's absence.