Rookie right-hander Jonathan Cannon pitched 8 2/3 shutout innings for his first career major league victory to lift the host Chicago White Sox to a 2-0 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday.
Cannon scattered seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts while reaching a career high in innings.
Cannon (1-1) yielded consecutive soft singles with two outs in the ninth before yielding to John Brebbia, who retired Victor Caratini for the final out to earn the save.
The White Sox capitalized on a mere two hits, neither for extra bases. The hustle of first baseman Andrew Vaughn truly fueled their attack.
Vaughn, who singled in the first inning, collected RBIs in separate at-bats with the bases loaded in the third and fifth innings, beating the relay throw to first base after grounding into forceouts to the left side.
Danny Mendick singled between two walks in the third for Chicago’s only other hit.
Alex Bregman and Trey Cabbage had two hits each for the Astros.
Houston starter Framber Valdez fell to 5-5 after allowing two runs and two hits in six innings. Valdez had five walks and five strikeouts.
Valdez threw 49 of his 93 pitches for strikes. Cannon collected 70 strikes on 106 pitches, keeping Houston off-balance with his sinker and sweeper.
Astros relievers Tayler Scott and Rafael Montero both worked perfect innings.
Cannon pitched to a 7.24 ERA in three April starts before heading back to Triple-A Charlotte.
He has shown remarkable resurgence since rejoining the White Sox in June, allowing one run in 18 2/3 innings during the month — one long-relief appearance and two starts. Cannon was coming off a sterling outing Wednesday, when he pitched seven innings of one-run, four-hit ball with one walk and a career-best seven strikeouts in a no-decision at Seattle.
The Chicago bullpen faltered later in that game, however, as the White Sox lost 2-1 in 10 innings.
Chicago manager Pedro Grifol and Cannon largely took the relief corps out of the equation against the Astros. Working in an eighth inning for the first time in the majors, Cannon retired Houston’s Nos. 9, 1 and 2 hitters in order.
–Field Level Media