CHICAGO — Garrett Crochet pitched seven sparkling innings, pinch-hitter Paul DeJong had a tiebreaking homer and the Chicago White Sox got their first win by beating the Atlanta Braves 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Michael Kopech pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and gave up a solo drive to Marcell Ozuna with one out in the ninth. He walked Michael Harris II with two out sand gave up a single to Orlando Arcia, putting runners on first and second, before retiring Travis d’Arnaud on a pop fly for the save.
Gavin Sheets and Andrew Vaughn hit RBI singles, and the White Sox overcame two home runs by Ozuna to win after an 0-4 start.
Crochet (1-1) held the Braves to one run and three hits in his second professional start. The hard-throwing left-hander struck out eight and walked one after an impressive performance in Chicago’s opening 1-0 loss to Detroit.
Sheets put Chicago ahead in the sixth with an RBI single against Reynaldo López. Ozuna tied it in the seventh with a drive to left for his second home run. But DeJong — batting for Braden Shewmake — put Chicago back on top when he greeted A.J. Minter (0-1) with a drive to left leading off the bottom half for his second homer.
Atlanta loaded with one out in the eighth. John Brebbia walked Jarred Kelenic and Ronald Acuña Jr., and Kopech walked Ozzie Albies before getting Austin Riley to ground into a double play.
Vaughn made it 3-1 when he drove in Luis Robert Jr. with a single in the eighth.
López, who pitched for the White Sox from 2017-23, went six innings in his Braves debut. The 30-year-old right-hander gave up one run and four hits.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: Manager Pedro Grifol said there's a good chance DH Eloy Jiménez (left adductor soreness) avoids the injured list. Jiménez was out of the lineup for the second straight game. ... C Max Stassi (left hip inflammation) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.
UP NEXT
The Braves send ace Spencer Strider (0-0, 3.60 ERA) to the mound for the series finale. A 20-game winner last season, Strider lasted five innings in Atlanta's season-opening win at Philadelphia. The White Sox had not announced their starter.
