Carter's two homers help Astros win
CHICAGO -- Eight years after starting the 2005 World Series at U.S. Cellular Field, the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros met in the same place on Monday night to begin another series.
This one had a lot less fanfare attached to it, though, not to mention a lot fewer fans.
An announced crowd of only 13,404 watched the Astros take the series opener 10-8 in a sloppy, see-saw game that featured 27 hits, seven homers, numerous miscues and two blown leads -- or about what you'd expect from teams toiling at the bottom of their respective divisions in the American League.
"I just think it's good for the team," said Chris Carter, the former White Sox prospect who led the Astros by going 3-for-4 with two homers and four RBIs. "We played good games with Toronto and we lost the last one. We still played a good game. (Tonight), the game was back and forth, and I think it's just good to keep that momentum we had going."
After the Astros blew a 7-3 lead when the White Sox (54-76) scored five runs in the sixth, Houston tied it up 8-8 in the sixth and then won it in the ninth on back-to-back solo home runs off Chicago closer Addison Reed.
Matt Dominguez hit the first, followed by Carter -- who drilled one to the opposite field for the final margin.
"You look at the five-run inning, and for these guys to respond the way they responded, it speaks to the resilience of the ballclub, and I couldn't be more proud of them," Astros manager Bo Porter said. "Man to a man, they set out to pick each other up and you can never sense (panic) in our dugout and it's been like that all year."
Jordan Lyles, usually a starter pitching who was on his normal side-session day on Monday, had to come in as a reliever to put out a bases-loaded fire in the bottom of the ninth for his first save.
David Martinez (1-0) picked up the win despite allowing three runs in the Sox's five-run inning.
Asked afterward if the loss was one of the ugliest ones he's seen in an ugly season, White Sox manager Robin Ventura's answer was to the point.
"Yes," he said. "It wasn't pretty. It was just one of those (where) guys were swinging the bats and guys weren't pitching well and a lot of runs were scored."
Each team started a rookie pitcher, and both hurlers struggled, winding up with no-decisions.
Chicago's Andre Rienzo went six innings and gave up seven runs (five earned) on nine hits, three walks and two wild pitches. Among the hits were two solo home runs. When he departed, the White Sox (54-76) were leading by four.
"Tough night for me (and) for the team," Rienzo said. "Really tough night. I missed a couple spots. Terrible game for me."
Brett Oberholtzer's night wasn't much better for the Astros (44-86). He lasted just 5 1/3 innings and gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits, including two home runs. Oberholtzer left in the sixth with a 7-5 lead, but watched it quickly disappear after Martinez allowed three more runs on four hits and a run-scoring balk to give Chicago an 8-7 lead.
Each team's rookie right-fielder also committed ugly run-scoring errors. Chicago's Avisail Garcia let a routine single get past him in Houston's three-run second, and L.J. Hoes dropped a long fly ball hit by Gordon Beckham in the fifth when the White Sox scored twice.
NOTES: White Sox bench coach Mark Parent explained what happened Sunday when he was ejected from a game against the Texas Rangers before the first pitch. "I took the lineup card (out), we had a little disagreement, it got out of hand and he decided to throw me out," Parent said of crew chief Jerry Layne. "We had a difference of opinion right away. There were some things that happened Saturday night that I didn't like and that was about it. I pretty much knew it would happen." ... The Sox hope to get RHP Ramon Troncoso (heart tissue inflammation) back before the end of the season. ... Jason Castro was selected the AL Player of the Week for the second time this season. ... RHP Paul Clemens will make his first major league start Tuesday for the Astros, who plan to use a six-man rotation the rest of the season. ... Injured Houston catchers Max Stassi and Carlos Corporan, both on the seven-day concussion disabled list, are scheduled to meet with a doctor who will reassess them.
