CHICAGO (AP) — Michael Kopech pitched six innings of one-hit ball, pinch-hitter AJ Pollock delivered a two-run double against his former team and the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 on Tuesday night.
Pollock’s clutch swing off the bench sparked a four-run sixth that sent the White Sox to their third consecutive victory.
The NL West-leading Dodgers dropped their third straight.
“For what could be possible down the road is why there is that rise-to-the-occasion mantra,” Kopech said. “I think we want to beat these guys at the end of the season in October.
“Obviously, we’ve got to get there first. These are teams that are very capable of being playoff teams, more than likely going to be playoff teams. So for us to compete well against them, it goes a long way.”
It was the fourth time this season Kopech worked at least five innings and limited an opponent to one hit. He also did it against the Rays on April 16 and against the Yankees on May 15 and in the second game of a May 22 doubleheader.
Kopech (2-2) struck out eight and walked one, lowering his ERA to 1.94 and earning his second win in his last three starts. The right-hander retired 11 of his first 12 batters — six on strikeouts — before Will Smith hit a soft single to left-center.
“To be honest, I’ve tried not to look at my stats the entire year,” Kopech said. “My dad was telling me my stats were good a couple weeks ago. I said, ‘Dad, listen, I don’t want to talk about this.’ So with all due respect, I’m going to say the same to you.”
Pollock, traded from the Dodgers to the White Sox on April 1 for closer Craig Kimbrel, was summoned to bat for Gavin Sheets after the Dodgers lifted reliever Phil Bickford (0-1) in favor of left-hander David Price with two outs in the sixth. Pollock was 4 for 31…
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