Tommy Edman smacked two solo home runs and Edmundo Sosa hit a two-run single to back a combined six-hit shutout as the visiting St. Louis Cardinals topped the Chicago White Sox 4-0 on Wednesday afternoon to avoid a three-game sweep.
Edman connected against Carlos Rodon in the third inning and Aaron Bummer in the eighth before Sosa put the game out of reach in the ninth.
Cardinals starter John Gant (4-3) scattered five hits, three walks and three strikeouts in five-plus scoreless innings before Genesis Cabrera, Giovanny Gallegos and Alex Reyes followed with four innings of one-hit, six-strikeout relief.
St. Louis batters struck out 14 times and overcame two errors, as the White Sox stranded 13 and went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
Nick Madrigal paced the Chicago attack with his second successive three-hit game.
Gant allowed baserunners in five of the six innings he started, only retiring the side in order in the second. Chicago twice loaded the bases against the right-hander, but Gant escaped trouble both times.
In the first inning, Yermin Mercedes lined a shot to Cardinals left fielder Justin Williams, who threw home to nab Adam Eaton for an inning-ending double play. In the third, Gant induced Mercedes on a foul popout to first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.
Chicago was unable to capitalize on another prime scoring opportunity in the sixth. With Andrew Vaughn on third base with one out, Cabrera fanned Leury Garcia and got Danny Mendick on a popup to second base.
White Sox starter Rodon shined with six innings of one-run ball, scattering 10 strikeouts and hitting two batters while walking none. Rodon retired 10 of 11 after the lone hit he allowed, the third-inning home run to Edman.
Eaton left the game with right hamstring tightness in the sixth inning and is day-to-day.
One inning later, reliever Michael Kopech hobbled off the field after landing awkwardly upon throwing a pitch that ended the inning.
–Field Level Media