Rookie Sheets hits 2 HRs, White Sox beat Pirates 6-3

CHICAGO (AP) — Rookie Gavin Sheets hit two home runs, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.

Sheets, who was promoted from Triple-A Charlotte before the game, hit a three-run homer off Max Kranick (1-3) with two out in the fourth inning to snap a scoreless tie.

After the Pirates left the tying run stranded at first base, Sheets hit a solo shot off reliever Duane Underwood Jr. in the bottom of the eighth for his eighth homer of the season.

“I knew I could compete at the big league level and ran with that,” said Sheets, who was optioned to Charlotte on Aug. 9.

The Sox (78-56) won for the fifth time in six games are 22 games above .500 for the first time since Sept. 13, 2006 (84-62). The Pirates (48-85) have dropped four of five.

White Sox starter Carlos Rodon (10-5) pitched five innings of five-hit ball. Rondon has allowed three runs while striking out 19 in his last 15 innings, covering three starts.

“He gave us what he had,” manager Tony La Russa said.

Liam Hendriks bailed Ryan Tepera out of a jam in the eighth and earned his 31st save. Hendriks has converted all nine save chances in which he has pitched at least 1 1/3 innings.

Pirates right-fielder Cole Tucker, batting leadoff for the first time this season, snapped an 0-for-9 performance against left-handers this season by hitting a two-out RBI single in the fifth.

“It’s been a long work in progress,” said Tucker, who added a double in the eighth. “But to have momentum like that and have the gratification pop up is cool.”

But a throwing error by Pirates shortstop Kevin Newman on a potential inning-ending double play led to two runs in the bottom of the inning, capped by Leury Garcia’s double.

White Sox third...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Rookie-Sheets-hits-2-HRs-White-Sox-beat-Pirates-16429954.php