Lopez shines again as White Sox beat Orioles 2-0

BALTIMORE (AP) – Reynaldo Lopez was sharp over seven innings to continue his late-season surge and lift the Chicago White Sox over the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 on Saturday night.

The 24-year-old Lopez (6-9) has a 1.10 ERA over his past five starts. He struck out six and allowed four hits and a walk this time to help Chicago to just its sixth winning streak of at least three games.

Yolmer Sanchez broke a scoreless tie with an RBI double in the sixth, chasing rookie Yefry Ramirez (1-6) from his longest big league outing with two outs. Avisail Garcia added his 18th home run in the ninth.

Caleb Frare retired two batters in the eighth and Juan Minaya got the last four outs for his first save.

Lopez was acquired from Washington after the 2016 season in the trade that sent outfielder Adam Eaton to the Nationals. The hard-throwing right-hander has been inconsistent since the deal but been excellent down the stretch of his first full major league season.

He retired 13 out of 14 batters before Renato Nunez singled in the fifth and became the first runner to reach second on Lopez’s wild pitch. DJ Stewart popped out to end the threat.

Two innings later, Lopez worked out of a two-on, one-out jam. He fanned Tim Beckham with a curveball to end a 10-pitch at-bat, then pumped his fist as Nunez popped his 104th pitch to second.

HARD-LUCK LOSS

In his first start in nearly a month, Ramirez was nearly as good, tying a career high with seven strikeouts while yielding four hits and a walk.

FOUR IS A CHARM

The victory was Chicago’s fourth win of the season over the Orioles, guaranteeing them the victory in the clubs’ season series for the first time since 2008.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: Manager Rick Renteria planned to play IF Matt Davidson (calf) at first base Sunday after giving him his first start in five games as the DH on Saturday. … RHP Nate Jones (right elbow) was not yet available to pitch back-to-back games after working an inning Friday in his second outing following a three-month layoff.

Orioles: RHP Luis Ortiz left Friday’s game with a left hamstring injury and may need an MRI. … RHP Andrew Cashner (left knee) did not throw Saturday, and that puts his scheduled start Monday against Toronto in jeopardy.

UP NEXT

White Sox: Lucas Giolito (10-10) makes his first career start at Camden Yards. He allowed seven runs in 1 1/3 innings in his previous start against the Orioles on May 24.

Orioles: David Hess (3-10, 5.17) has won just one of his last 15 starts. In his last start, Hess allowed six runs, just two earned in five innings at Tampa Bay on Sept. 8.

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Baltimore Orioles pitcher Yefry Ramirez delivers against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Chicago White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia, left, is unable to hold onto a foul ball hit by Baltimore Orioles’ Cedric Mullins in the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Baltimore Orioles’ shortstop Tim Beckham tags out Chicago White Sox Adam Engle on a steal attempt in the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)