Moncada leaves with injury, but Fletcher's 2-run double helps White Sox win 7-5 over Guardians

CLEVELAND - CLEVELAND (AP) — Dominic Fletcher hit a two-run double in the eighth inning as the Chicago White Sox snapped a five-game losing streak with their first road win, 7-5 over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night.

Fletcher's shot to right-center off Scott Barlow (0-2) broke a 5-5 tie as the White Sox finally broke out of an early season offensive funk.

Chicago scored five runs in the first and got the big hit when it needed one.

The White Sox had scored just 16 runs in their first 10 games, and the club was off to its worst start (1-9) since 1968 (0-10).

Steven Wilson (1-1) struck out the side in the seventh, and Michael Kopech struck out four in two innings for his second save.

Josh Naylor hit a two-run homer for the Guardians, who had their winning streak stopped at five and dropped to 8-3.

While they got their second win, the White Sox lost third baseman Yoán Moncada, who went down with a hip injury in the second inning.

Moncada was running to first after hitting a grounder when he pulled up and collapsed short of the bag. The 28-year-old Moncada was helped to his feet and assisted off the field.

Before the game, White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Moncada had been dealing with a nagging hip/adductor injury the past few days.

Moncada's injury is just the latest for Chicago, which is already missing outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (hip flexor) and slugger Eloy Jiménez (adductor).

With the score tied in the eighth, Korey Lee reached when Barlow splintered his bat but the barrel flew at the pitcher, who had to avoid being hit. Andrew Benintendi walked before Flether, who came in to pinch-hit in the sixth, doubled into the gap and was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple.

Down 5-0 in the first, the Guardians chipped away.

They got two back in the bottom of the inning when Naylor connected for his second homer, a shot into the right-field seats.

Grifol was confident his team would bust out of its slump sooner or later — the White Sox came in last in runs, on-base percentage and batting just .091 (5 for 55) with runners in scoring position.

Chicago's hitters wasted no time getting to Guardians starter Logan Allen. The first five White Sox reached, with Lenyn Sosa, Andrew Vaughn and Lee getting RBIs before Kevin Pillar's two-run double capped the five-run outburst.

TRAINER'S ROOM

CLEVELAND (AP) — Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoán Moncada had to be helped off the field after injuring his left hip in the second inning Tuesday night.

Moncada was running to first base after hitting a grounder when he pulled up and collapsed short of the bag.

As he writhed in pain on the ground, Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor helped comfort Moncada before a Chicago trainer reached him.

Moncada laid in the infield dirt for a few minutes before being helped to his feet and was assisted to the dugout and clubhouse.

The White Sox said Moncada suffered a left adductor (hip) strain and will be re-evaluated on Wednesday.

Before the game, White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Moncada had been dealing with a nagging hip/adductor injury the past few days and had been getting treatment, but didn’t expect the injury to keep him out of the lineup.

Moncada's injury is just the latest for the struggling White Sox, who are already missing outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (hip flexor) and slugger Eloy Jimenez (adductor).

Moncada singled in the first inning as Chicago, which came in 1-9 and had scored just 16 runs, scored five times off Cleveland's Logan Allen.

Nicky Lopez replaced Moncada at second base in the bottom of the second.

Moncada batted .260 with 11 homers and 40 RBIs in just 92 games last season.

White Sox: RHP John Brebbia (calf strain) expects to be back once he's eligible to come of the 15-day injured list.

Guardians: LHP Sam Hentges (swollen middle finger) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Friday as he moves closer to rejoining the club. Hentges is expected to have a major role in Cleveland's bullpen once he returns.

UP NEXT

White Sox RHP Erick Fedde (0-0, 2.79 ERA) will start the series finale against Guardians RHP Tanner Bibee (1-0, 3.86 ERA). Fedde allowed just one run in five innings in a start against Kansas City last week.