The Sports Xchange
May 18, 2017
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Chicago White Sox reliever Anthony Swarzak had not given up a run all season. Then he faced Los Angeles Angels slugger Mike Trout on Wednesday.
Trout stepped to the plate in the sixth inning and launched an 86 mph breaking ball just above the knees over the wall in left-center.
The streak was over, and essentially, so was the game. Trout's three-run blast gave the Angels a four-run lead in what eventually was a 12-8 win, with Los Angeles completing a three-game sweep of Chicago.
Swarzak began the season with 19 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings over 15 appearances. Not only had he not allowed a run, but he had allowed only one inherited runner to score all year.
The right-hander gave up an RBI single to Martin Maldonado in the sixth inning Wednesday, but the run was charged to White Sox starter Miguel Gonzalez.
Cameron Maybin followed with an infield single before Trout went deep.
Maybin, who had a five-hit performance Tuesday, added three more hits and a walk on Wednesday. Since moving into the leadoff spot Tuesday, Maybin is 8-for-10 and has reached base in nine of 11 plate appearances.
Angels starter Matt Shoemaker, despite a slow start, managed to pitch into the seventh inning and get the win. Shoemaker (3-2) gave up four runs (three earned) in the first two innings but nothing else, allowing nine hits in all, striking out nine and walking one in 6 1/3 innings.
Gonzalez (3-4) surrendered five runs on six hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings.
Jose Abreu homered and Avisail Garcia had three hits for the White Sox.
Shoemaker struck out three in the first inning, but in between the second and third strikeouts, the White Sox strung together four consecutive hits and took a 2-0 lead.
Melky Cabrera got it started with a two-out double, and Abreu followed with a two-run homer. Garcia and Todd Frazier each singled but were stranded when Shoemaker struck out Tim Anderson to end the inning.
The White Sox added two more runs in the second inning, getting two singles, a walk and a throwing error by shortstop Andrelton Simmons to up their lead to 4-0.
The Angels got all four runs back when they batted around in the bottom of the second inning. Gonzalez was his own worst enemy, walking four batters in the inning, three of whom scored. Ben Revere had an RBI triple, Maldonado had an RBI groundout, and then Albert Pujols' two-out, two-run single tied the game.
NOTES: Angels DH Albert Pujols had two RBIs to increase his team-leading total to 32 this year and his career total to 1,849, 11th on the all-time list. It has helped him having CF Mike Trout hitting in front of him and getting on base -- Trout's .451 on-base percentage leads the American League. ... Angels RF Kole Calhoun was given a "recharge day" by Angels manager Mike Scioscia. In his last nine games, Calhoun has four hits in 35 at-bats with 15 strikeouts. ... White Sox 1B Jose Abreu hit his seventh home run of the season in the first inning. All seven homers have been hit on the road. His last home run in Chicago came last Sept. 15 vs. Cleveland, meaning he has not gone deep at home in his last 23 games, including 16 home games this year.