White Sox's early lead fades in 5-3 loss to Reds

CINCINNATI - TJ Friedl hit a 3-run homer and a run-scoring triple, helping the Cincinnati Reds top the White Sox 5-3 on Saturday.

Friedl's third homer - a drive to right-center against Mike Clevinger in the fifth inning - lifted Cincinnati to a 4-3 lead. He drove in Jonathan India with a two-out triple in the seventh.

India went 3 for 3 and scored three times. He walked ahead of Friedl's homer.

Derek Law (2-4) pitched 2⅓ scoreless innings in relief of Nick Lodolo, and Alexis Díaz got three outs for his sixth save.

Hanser Alberto and Seby Zavala homered for the Sox. Clevinger (2-3) was charged with 4 runs and 6 hits in six innings. Friedl's homer was the sixth allowed by Clevinger in the pitcher's last four starts. Clevinger has allowed 15 earned runs over his last four starts.

"I thought Clevinger threw the ball well," Grifol said. "But he got himself into trouble in the fifth."

The White Sox, who came in hitting .180 with runners in scoring position over the past 13 games, went 1 for 8 in those situations on Saturday.

"We have to string together good at-bats," White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. "Just need to keep grinding. We hit the ball hard."

Reds third baseman Nick Senzel stranded a pair of runners in the first when he retired Andrew Benintendi with a diving stop. The White Sox left the bases loaded in the third. Alberto tied it at 1 with his second homer in the second. Benintendi doubled home Luis Robert Jr. in the third, and Zavala's leadoff drive in the fourth made it 3-1 White Sox.

Lodolo allowed 3 runs and 6 hits in 3⅔ innings. He hit three batters, struck out three and walked one.

The White Sox have won four of six since losing a season-high 10 straight. They dropped to 5-13 on the road.