Rookie Jonathan Cannon achieved his second career victory in style on Tuesday night, helping the Chicago White Sox end their franchise-record-tying 21-game losing streak with a 5-1 win against the Oakland Athletics.
Andrew Benintendi contributed with a two-run homer, putting Chicago on the scoreboard and later scoring the final run in the ninth inning, marking the team’s first win since July 10 against the Minnesota Twins.
This win ensured the White Sox avoided breaking the American League record for consecutive losses, which they now share with the 1988 Baltimore Orioles, and it sits just two losses away from the all-time modern-day record held by the Philadelphia Phillies from 1961.
Cannon (2-5) delivered a stellar performance, conceding just one run and six hits over six innings of play, while walking two and striking out five.
At 24 years old, he celebrated his first win since June 18, having gone winless in the previous seven outings, including six starts.
Rookie White Sox pitcher Jonathan Cannon earned his first victory in seven outings on Tuesday
Andrew Benintendi hit a two-run homer to get the White Sox on the scoreboard in the fourth inning
Benintendi’s two-run shot in the fourth inning, off of A’s starter Ross Stripling (2-11), marked the turning point for the White Sox. It was his 10th home run of the season, and it helped score Luis Robert Jr., who had previously singled.
The Athletics responded with a solo home run from Zack Gelof, his 14th of the season, reducing their deficit in the fourth.
However, that would be the only run allowed by Cannon, with relief pitchers Dominic Leone, Chad Kuhl, and John Brebbia each throwing three perfect innings.
Chicago extended their lead in the sixth when Andrew Vaughn brought in a run with a single, followed shortly by Brooks Baldwin scoring on a wild pitch, bringing the score to 4-1.
Lenyn Sosa finalized the scoring in the ninth with a single that sent Benintendi home, who had an outstanding game with a double, homer, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
Baldwin also had two hits for the White Sox, who broke their 13-game road losing streak that dated back to July 5 against Miami.
For the Athletics, Gelof, Miguel Andujar, and Brent Rooker managed two hits each, as they fell for the third time in four outings.
Stripling was taken out after 5 1/3 innings, having allowed four runs on five hits, with one walk and two strikeouts.
