CHICAGO (AP) — Randal Grichuk hit a long home run and the Toronto Blue Jays took advantage of a season-high four errors by Chicago as well as a bases-loaded walk to beat the AL Central-leading White Sox 6-2 on Wednesday night.
Grichuk hit a 451-foot drive leading off the second inning. Toronto rookie Alek Manoah threw five solid innings in his third major league start and the Blue Jays won despite another strong start by Chicago’s Lance Lynn.
The White Sox were sailing along with a 2-1 lead after Lynn struck out nine over seven innings. But a shaky bullpen and poor defense spoiled things for Chicago.
Toronto scored three runs in the eighth and tacked on two more in the ninth.
Aaron Bummer (0-4) walked Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with the bases loaded in the eighth to force in the tying run. Two more scored when shortstop Tim Anderson overthrew first trying to complete a double play on Teoscar Hernández’s grounder against Codi Heuer, giving the Blue Jays a 4-2 lead.
Toronto tacked on two more in the ninth, aided by more shaky defense.
Rowdy Tellez hit an RBI single and went to second on right fielder Adam Eaton’s throwing error. Tellez came around when first baseman José Abreu missed a throw from second baseman Danny Mendick trying to turn a double play on Marcus Semien, making it 6-2.
Tyler Chatwood (1-2) got the win.
Manoah gave up two runs — one earned — and four hits. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out four and walked two.
Owner of baseball’s second-best ERA, Lynn allowed four hits and did not walk a batter.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: OF George Springer (quad strain) is getting close to going on a rehab assignment, though manager Charlie Montoyo wasn’t sure when it will begin. “He’s doing well and a rehab assignment shouldn't be too far from now,” he said. Springer, who made the trip to Chicago, signed a team-record $150 million, six-year deal with Toronto this offseason. But the All-Star outfielder has appeared in just four games because of injuries. ... Montoyo said 3B-OF Cavan Biggio (sprained spine ligament) will play mostly at third base, though he will also be used elsewhere in the infield and outfield, when he returns from a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo.
White Sox: 2B Nick Madrigal was helped off the field with a sore right hamstring after he tried to beat out a grounder to end the seventh. The White Sox said he will undergo more evaluations on Thursday. ... AL MVP José Abreu went down holding his left leg prior to his at-bat in the first. Plate umpire Erich Bacchus tried to toss the bat out of the way following Yoan Moncada’s RBI single and hit Abreu, who was hurrying over to signal for Jake Lamb to slide.
UP NEXT
The White Sox send out LHP Dallas Keuchel (4-1, 4.25 ERA) for the series finale, with LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (5-3, 3.23) pitching for Toronto. Keuchel is 4-0 in six career starts against Toronto. Ryu looks to bounce back after giving up seven runs during a 13-1 loss to Houston in Buffalo on Friday.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Andrew Seligman, The Associated Press
