Kopech strikes out 10 in 5 innings, White Sox sweep Texas

Michael Kopech struck out a career-high 10 in just five innings, Jose Abreu homered and drove in three runs and the White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 8-4 Sunday for their season-high fourth straight win.

Kopech (2-0), making his second spot start in a week while pitching out of the bullpen, continued to impress after missing the 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and the 2020 season for personal reasons.

Kopech, who resides about 100 miles from Dallas in Tyler, Texas, overpowered Rangers hitters with his 97 mph fastball.

The 24-year-old right-hander allowed 1 run, on a homer by David Dahl, and 4 hits without allowing a walk in a career-high 87 pitches.

Kopech filled in for ace Lucas Giolito, who cut his finger while opening a bottle. Giolito had his start pushed back to Tuesday against the Tigers.

Abreu hit a 2-run homer, the fifth of the year for the reigning AL MVP, in the first off Kohei Arihara (2-2). Arihara, who entered the game with a streak of 12 1-3 scoreless innings, labored through the first inning throwing 40 pitches.

Adam Eaton hit an RBI triple and scored on Abreu's sacrifice fly in the second.

One night after getting the game-winning hit, Nick Madrigal hit a 2-run triple in the third and later scored on Eaton's safety squeeze bunt to make it 8-1.

Zack Collins added a career-high 3 hits as the Sox completed a three-game sweep.

Jonathan Stiever, called up before the game by the White Sox, was tagged for 3 runs on 4 hits without recording an out in the sixth.

The White Sox optioned INF Danny Mendick to Schaumburg to make room for Stiever. White Sox manager Tony La Russa needed more pitching depth with the absence of Evan Marshall on Sunday. Marshall traveled to Arizona for a friend's funeral.