White Sox top Brewers 3-1 behind Lynn, avoid sweep
MILWAUKEE - Lance Lynn allowed 1 run over 6 innings and hit a 2-run single to lift the White Sox to a 3-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday night, avoiding a sweep in this series between division leaders.
Lynn (10-3) allowed 6 hits, struck out six and walked none, outdueling Brandon Woodruff in a matchup of all-star right-handers. Lynn, who lowered his ERA to 1.91, also keyed a decisive 3-run second inning with his bat.
Michael Kopech pitched a scoreless inning for the Sox and Liam Hendricks tossed two for his 24th save in 28 chances.
Woodruff (7-5) allowed 3 runs on 5 hits in 7 innings, striking out nine and walking two. His ERA climbed from an NL-best 2.04 to 2.14, which is just behind teammate Corbin Burnes' 2.12. Woodruff has 2 losses and 2 no-decisions in his 4 July starts.
Lynn leads the AL in ERA.
The White Sox, who lead the A.L. Central by 9 games, mustered just enough offense after dropping the first two games against the NL Central-leading Brewers by a combined score of 13-2.
The White Sox scored all 3 runs in the second with two outs. Brian Goodwin walked and Leury Garcia singled. Seby Zavala followed with an RBI single, with both runners advancing on the throw. Lynn then lofted a single into shallow right field to score two more runs.
Lynn twice halted potential rallies with crucial strikeouts.
Milwaukee made it 2-1 in the fifth when Tyrone Taylor tripled with one out and Jackie Bradley Jr. followed with an RBI double off the wall in right-center. Lynn ended the threat by striking out Woodruff and Kolten Wong.
The Brewers got their first baserunners on consecutive two-out singles by Woodruff and Wong in the third, but Lynn got Christian Yelich on a called third strike.
Milwaukee also left two aboard in the sixth and seventh innings.