Sean Burke allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings Sunday afternoon, and the visiting Chicago White Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0.
Burke (7-4) allowed one walk and struck out five. In two outings against the Blue Jays this season, the right-hander has allowed just one run in 12 2/3 innings.
Grant Taylor allowed Ernie Clement’s infield hit and Nathan Lukes’ bunt single to open the bottom of the ninth. The threat ended on a lineout and a double-play grounder to give Taylor his fifth save of the season.
Colson Montgomery went 2-for-4 and hit a solo home run for the White Sox in the rubber match of a three-game series. Chicago won the season series 5-1.
The White Sox turned the first hit of the game into a run in the fourth inning against Trey Yesavage (4-5). Munetaka Murakami walked to open the frame and was forced out at second by Miguel Vargas’ grounder to third. Montgomery’s single to right off the glove of first baseman Sean Keys put runners at the corners. Andrew Benintendi then hit a sacrifice fly to center to put Chicago on the board.
Burke did not allow a runner until Lukes beat out an infield hit to third with one out in the fourth. It followed a catch at the wall by left fielder Randal Grichuk, a former Blue Jay, on Clement’s bid for extra bases.
Montgomery homered to right-center on a 1-2 splitter with two out in the sixth. Benintendi followed with a double to left and scored on Braden Montgomery’s second hit of the game, a single to center.
Yesavage allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out a season-high nine across his six innings.
Toronto’s second runner of the game came with two outs in the sixth when Clement walked. His plate appearance was prolonged when first baseman Murakami lost his routine foul ball in the sun.
Daulton Varsho singled with two outs in the seventh to chase Burke, who was relieved by Bryan Hudson.
Hudson retired all four batters he faced and had one strikeout.
Toronto’s Lazardo Estrada pitched a perfect top of the ninth.
