White Sox get another triple play, but lose fourth straight
CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago White Sox have hit their first bump in the road. In unbeaten Chris Sale, they've got the right pitcher to steer them out of it.
Jose Altuve had three hits and two RBIs, Colby Rasmus and Jason Castro each had a solo home run and the Astros beat Chicago 5-3 on Wednesday night despite the White Sox turning their second triple play of the season.
The White Sox have lost four straight, but Sale (8-0) is scheduled to start the series finale on Thursday.
"Here we go," Todd Frazier said. "Now what are we going to do? How are we going to bounce back? We're still riding high. We're still in first place. We got our main guy going tomorrow."
Frazier started a 5-4-3 around-the-horn triple play in the eighth inning, as Chicago became the first team in 38 years to turn a pair of triple plays in the first two months of the season. It was last done by the Astros in the 1978 season.
Jose Abreu went 2 for 4 with two RBI for Chicago, which has dropped six of seven overall.
"Offensively, we had some shots at it," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "It hasn't been clicking lately, but we'll keepˆ grindingˆ away."
Altuve went 3 for 4 with a walk, and Castro went 2 for 3 with a walk.
"We can hit and we have a dangerous team," Astros manager A.J. Hitch said. "We certainly have our struggles at times, but consistency is hard to find in this league."
Doug Fister (4-3) allowed three runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings to get the win. Luke Gregerson got the final three outs for his ninth save.
Mat Latos (5-1) has been slumping for four straight starts. During that stretch, Latos has allowed 18 runs in 20 2/3 innings for an earned run average of 7.84.
"It stinks," Latos said. "Obviously, it's not the way that I want it to go. I'm tired of giving up runs. That's just the way the game goes sometimes."
Astros rookie Tony Kemp doubled in his first major league at-bat in the second inning.
TRIPLE PLAY
In the eighth inning, after Kemp and Altuve led off with walks, George Springer hit a grounder near the third-base line. Frazier fielded the ball and stepped on third before throwing to second baseman Brett Lawrie, who fired to first for the third out.
"The ball was hit foul and I guess that's why (Springer) didn't get out of the box real quick," Frazier said of his first career triple play. "The ball landed then ricocheted back fair. It was a pretty easy hop for me."
Chicago also completed a triple play against Texas on April 22 in the seventh inning, an unusual 9-3-2-6-2-5 play.
It's the first time the White Sox have had two triple plays in a season since 2006. The last major league team to have two in a season was Philadelphia in 2007.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: Frazier was back in the lineup after sitting out Tuesday's game with flu-like symptoms. ... RHP Nate Jones, who left Tuesday's game after being struck by a line drive on the inside of his left foot, was available on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Collin McHugh (4-3, 5.58 ERA) has a three-game winning streak.
White Sox: Sale (8-0, 1.67) looks to become the first nine-game winner in the majors this season. He is the fourth Chicago pitcher to win his first eight starts.