Daulton Varsho ripped a two-run triple and scored as part of a four-run third inning, fueling the host Houston Astros to a 6-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday afternoon.
The Astros took three-of-four in the series and five-of-seven from Chicago this season.
Jose Altuve belted a two-run homer in the first inning and Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker each drove in a run for the Astros (72-69), who have won six of their last eight games.
The offense was more than enough for Hunter Brown (5-3), who defeated the White Sox for the second time this season and improved to 6-0 in six career starts versus the club. He allowed two runs on six hits and struck out seven batters in six innings.
Bennett Sousa and Bryan Abreu each struck out a batter and retired the side in order to bridge the gap to AJ Blubaugh, who recorded his 10th consecutive scoreless appearance.
Chicago’s Jake Rogers and Sam Antonacci each had an RBI single in the second inning.
Miguel Vargas and Chase Meidroth each had two of the seven singles for the White Sox (73-67), who have lost four of their last five games.
Paredes ripped an RBI double off the wall in left field to give Houston a 3-2 lead in the third inning.
Varsho stepped up two batters later and plated a pair of runs after his blast off Luis Castillo (4-11) caromed off the wall in right-center field. Varsho didn’t stay on third base for long, as he trotted home on Walker’s single to center field to boost his team’s advantage to 6-2.
Castillo permitted six runs on six hits in four innings.
Paredes worked a 10-pitch walk with two outs in the first inning before Altuve deposited a 0-1 fastball from Castillo over the wall in left field to open the scoring. Altuve’s homer was his 15th of the season.
The White Sox forged a 2-2 tie after Rogers’ infield single plated Colson Montgomery and Antonacci’s RBI single to left field scored Tristan Peters.
