PHOENIX (AP) — Christian Walker drove in three runs with a home run and a double and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Chicago White Sox 12-5 on Sunday.
Walker hit a solo homer in the first inning, scored in the third and hit two more with a bases-loaded double in a six-run fourth inning as Arizona won two of three in the series. With a cycle chance, Walker struck out and turned into a double play in his final two at-bats.
Arizona starter Jordan Montgomery (5-4) benefited from the offensive explosion. He pitched five innings, giving up four hits, one unearned run – caused by his own error – walked two and struck out seven.
The Diamondbacks bounced back from a 9-2 loss on Saturday night, overcoming Chicago’s Drew Thorpe, who was making his second major league start. Corbin Carroll walked on four pitches and Ketel Marte lined a single to right and Joc Pederson followed with a double to right, scoring both runners. Pederson was trying to stretch it for a triple, but Walker hit Thorpe’s next pitch into the seats in left-center for his 16th home run to make it 3-0.
In the fourth, the Diamondbacks loaded the bases with two hits and a walk. Marte hit a sacrifice fly and Pederson took advantage of catcher interference to reload the bases. Chad Kuhl relieved Thorpe and Walker complimented him with the two-run double. Jake McCarthy hit a sacrifice fly and the last two runs of the inning were scored on wild pitches – Kuhl threw three in the inning.
Thorpe (0-1) walked five and hit none.
Thorpe made his debut Tuesday in Seattle. The third-ranked prospect in the White Sox farm system pitched five innings against the Mariners, giving up three hits and two runs (one earned), walking two and striking out four. Thorpe was acquired from San Diego in March in the trade that sent RHP Dylan Cease to the Padres.
Tommy Pham and Andrew Vaughn each had three hits for the White Sox, who defeated the Diamondbacks 11-9.
Chicago, with the majors’ worst record of 19–54, fell short in its bid to win just its second road series of the season. The White Sox are an MLB-worst 7-31 away from the South Side. They beat two of the Cardinals’ three from May 3-5 in St. Louis.
Plate umpire Marvin Hudson left the game in the sixth inning after Walker’s foul ball hit him directly in the mask. Catcher Martín Maldonado grabbed Hudson and prevented him from falling and the umpire was quickly helped off the field. Second base umpire John Tumpane replaced Hudson behind the plate.
The game was played in front of a crowd of 37,694 on Father’s Day.
SOX MOVEMENTS
Chicago recalled C Chuckie Robinson from Triple-A Charlotte, giving them three catchers on the roster with Maldonado and Korey Lee, who served as DH on Sunday. OF Duke Ellis was assigned a mission.
NEXT
White Sox: Day off on Monday. RHP Jonathan Cannon (0-1, 4.56 ERA) is scheduled to face Houston on Tuesday night in Chicago.
Diamondbacks: Inactive Monday. RHP Slade Cecconi (1-5, 6.70) starts the opener of a three-game series at Washington. RHP Jake Irvin (5-5, 3.00) goes to the Nationals.
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