Quick start against Toronto helps White Sox snap 3-game losing streak

The start was great, and that includes the White Sox's offense and Dylan Cease, who was on the mound against the Blue Jays Tuesday night at Toronto.

The finish was a little shaky, but the Sox did what they had to do in a 5-2 win.

After struggling to get the offense going through a three-game losing streak, the White Sox scored 4 runs in the first inning off Jays starter Jose Berrios.

"It feels good to be able to provide that," Cease said. "Really, the offense set the tone early. They came out, put up 4 runs in that first inning. For me, it was my job from there just to throw strikes and attack. The defense played really well, too, actually. It's definitely not just me."

Cease went 7 innings against one of the better lineups in the American League, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits over 7 innings.

"We've been losing some games and he stood up and was outstanding," manager Tony La Russa said. "He just kept competing, making pitches."

Offensively, Luis Robert moved into the leadoff spot for the Sox in place of Tim Anderson. The center fielder was 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored.

No. 2 hitter Yoan Moncada was also 3-for-5, as was No. 3 hitter Jose Abreu.

Aiming to lead the league in RBI for the third straight year, Abreu drove in 4 against Toronto and has 96 for the season.

"You expect that from him every day," Robert said through a translator. "You know that every day he'll try to do his thing. He's going to find a way to drive in runs, find a way to help the team score runs and win the game."

Leading 5-1 in the eighth inning, White Sox reliever Michael Kopech was pulled after the Jays put runners on first and third with one out.

Closer Liam Hendriks came on and wasn't sharp, but he managed to get the five-out save while throwing 39 pitches.

"(Hendriks) was well-rested and they were sitting on Michael's fastball and hitting it," La Russa said. "The nice thing is, as many pitches as (Hendriks) threw, we get a chance to save it tomorrow, we've got (Craig) Kimbrel. So it was just that we've gone this far to win that game and that's what (Hendriks) does for us."

Off limits:

In Monday's 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays, Vlad Guerrero Jr. got a 3-0 pitch to hit from White Sox starter Lance Lynn and he came through with an RBI single in the sixth inning to tie the game.

Afterward, Lynn took the blame for throwing a pitch Guerrero could get his bat on. On Toronto's TV broadcast feed, Sox manager Tony La Russa was seen airing out rookie catcher Seby Zavala.

It was a pretty obvious moment to call for an intentional walk to Guerrero, and Zavala appeared to miss the sign from the dugout.

For the second straight day, La Russa declined to discuss the incident.

"What I said yesterday is what I'm going to say (Tuesday), I have no comment about that play," La Russa said. "I know there has been video about what was going on in the dugout, before the pitch, after the pitch, all that. I'm not going to comment on it. Period.

"I will add one thing, that might be the first time I don't answer a question. But I'm not going to answer that one."