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Mercedes homers, White Sox complete sweep over Red Sox

Posted April 18, 2021 1:00 am

By KEN POWTAK Associated Press

White Sox starter Dallas Keuchel delivers a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Boston. Associated Press

BOSTON - Yermín Mercedes opened Chicago's three-run fourth inning with a long homer, and the White Sox completed a sweep of their split-admission doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday with a 5-1 victory.

Nick Madrigal had two hits and drove in two runs for Chicago, which climbed back to .500 at 8-8.

In the opener, Tim Anderson homered on the game's first pitch and Dallas Keuchel pitched five solid innings in a 3-2 victory.

The teams play the series finale Monday morning in Boston's annual Patriots' Day Game with a scheduled 11:05 a.m. first pitch. Lucas Giolito (1-0, 2.55 ERA) is slated to go for the White Sox against Nathan Eovaldi (2-1, 2.08).

For the first time since the Red Sox started playing their annual Patriots' Day game in 1959, Monday's contest will not be in held in conjunction with the Boston Marathon, which was moved to Oct. 11 due to the state's limits on crowds because of the pandemic.

J.D. Martinez had an RBI single for Boston's lone run in the second game.

Back wearing their traditional white uniforms with red letters and numbers in the nightcap, the Red Sox lost for the third time in four games after their nine-game winning streak.

Mercedes hit a changeup from Martín Pérez (0-1) off a backwall behind the batter's eye, a drive estimated at 431 feet. Danny Mendick had a bloop RBI single and Madrigal a run-scoring, hustle double to make it 4-0.

Matt Foster (1-1) got five outs in scoreless relief for the win.

Pérez was tagged for four runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.

The Red Sox wore their yellow-and-blue City Series uniforms in the first game for the second straight day, honoring the Marathon with the colors that stretch across the finish line of the famous race.

Yasmani Grandal had an RBI double and Yoán Moncada drove in a run with a single for the White Sox. Keuchel (1-0) gave up two runs and Liam Hendriks got the final three outs for his second save.

Anderson sent a 96.8 mph fastball from Tanner Houck (0-2) into Boston's bullpen.

Kiké Hernández homered around the right-field foul pole for Boston.

The doubleheader was scheduled after Friday's game was postponed due to snow and rain.

Throw out the numbers

Red Sox manager Alex Cora had a simple explanation, joking why left-hander Pérez was starting the second game.

"We dig into analytics and sabermetrics and all that, we found out that Martín is actually not a morning person, so we decided to go with Tanner," Cora said, smiling. "I can tell. We had a lot of day games. You didn't see him walking around the clubhouse a lot."

Short leash

Chicago starter Michael Kopech, a highly touted Red Sox prospect who was dealt to the White Sox in the Chris Sale trade in 2016, was pulled after he gave up his first hit in the fourth inning of the second game. He was charged with a run, struck out four and walked one.

Trainer's room

White Sox: Manager Tony La Russa gave Anderson the second game off because "he was on the bases so much." Anderson said: "I want to play. I did my homework on the pitcher because I thought he was pitching the first game."

Red Sox: Catcher Christian Vázquez was back in the lineup after two games off. ... Houck was hit on the lower body by Anderson's grounder for a single in the fifth. Houck said after that he felt fine.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck throws against the White Sox in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Boston. Associated Press

White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada throws to first in the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Boston. Associated Press

White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal, left, hits a sacrifice fly, allowing teammate Leury Garcia to score, as Boston Red Sox's Christian Vazquez, right, looks on in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Boston. The game is the second of a doubleheader Sunday. Associated Press

Leury Garcia advances to third base on a double hit by White Sox slugger Andrew Vaughn in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Boston. The game is the second of a doubleheader Sunday. Associated Press

Leury Garcia, center, is welcomed into the White dugout after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Nick Madrigal in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Boston. The game is the second of a doubleheader Sunday. Associated Press

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, left, grounds into a fielder's choice, allowing White Sox's Nick Madrigal to score, as Boston Red Sox's Christian Vazquez, right, looks on in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Boston. The game is the second of a doubleheader Sunday. Associated Press

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