CHICAGO — J.P. France handed the time through the prolonged rain delay enjoying playing cards and taking a beating.

Once he stepped on the mound, he obtained the outcomes he needed. And he got here away along with his first main league win.

France pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning in his second outing, José Abreu obtained a heat reception in his return to Chicago and the Houston Astros beat the White Sox 5-1 on Friday evening.

France took a beating on the card desk from pitcher Matt Gage because the groups waited out greater than a two-hour delay at the beginning. That really left him with a very good feeling.

France stated he took just a few beatings at playing cards from pitcher Austin Davis at Triple-A Sugar Land and all the time appeared to pitch nicely afterward.

“Every time I would play cards, he would destroy me,” he stated. “But every time I would get destroyed, I would have a good outing. That’s what I told Gage. I said, ‘Look, you kicked my butt in this. But that means I’m gonna have a good outing. So this one’s on you.’”

PHOTOS: France dominates, Abreu will get heat welcome as Astros beat ChiSox

The White Sox honored Abreu with a pregame video tribute, and he responded by coming out of the dugout and pumping his fist as the group cheered earlier than jogging towards the clubhouse.

Kyle Tucker walked and scored within the fourth. He additionally obtained Houston’s first hit when he chased Chicago starter Michael Kopech (1-4) with an RBI double within the fifth, making it 2-1.

The Astros scored two extra within the sixth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Martín Maldonado and Mauricio Dubón towards Gregory Santos. Yordan Alvarez homered in his second straight recreation when he led off the ninth with an extended drive to proper.

France (1-0) was terrific once more after throwing 5 scoreless innings towards Seattle final week in his main league debut. The 28-year-old right-hander went 6 2/3 innings on this one, permitting only one run and one stroll.

Teammates showered him with a chilly combination of “a lot of different stuff” that he thought included beer and cleaning soap after his first win.

“Is it nice to look at it as an individual thing? Yeah,” he stated. “But at the same time, for me, the mindset I have is that OK, the win’s done and now I’m on to the next one.’”

Abreu, who received an MVP award and made three All-Star groups over 9 seasons in Chicago earlier than becoming a member of with the World Series champions final winter, was 1 for five with a single within the seventh. The Cuban slugger is batting .218 and nonetheless searching for his first homer after signing a $58.5 million, three-year contract.

Chicago’s Luis Robert hit a solo homer within the second. Kopech threw 94 pitches and simply 48 strikes whereas setting a profession excessive with six walks and hitting a batter. The White Sox misplaced once more after dropping three of 4 at Kansas City.

“I thought he had good stuff,” supervisor Pedro Grifol stated. “He was strong. On the offensive, side, we didn’t do much. Robert got a good pitch to hit, put it in the seats. That was it. We didn’t do much.”

TOSSED

Astros hitting coach Troy Snitker was ejected by plate umpire Mark Wegner within the prime of the primary inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: Star Jose Altuve (damaged proper thumb) was set to start a rehab task with Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday. … Manager Dusty Baker stated OF Michael Brantley will probably be shut down “for awhile” due to irritation in his surgically repaired proper shoulder. Brantley regarded like he was near returning after being sidelined all season. But the five-time All-Star stays out indefinitely. … OF Chas McCormick (again tightness) was out of the lineup for the third straight recreation. He missed 20 video games earlier than enjoying Monday towards the Angels in Los Angeles.

White Sox: 3B Yoán Moncada returned to the lineup after being sidelined since April 9 due to decrease again soreness. The switch-hitting Moncada stated by means of an interpreter he feels “pretty normal” from the left aspect, although he’s nonetheless experiencing some discomfort from the precise. Chicago optioned infielder Lenyn Sosa to Triple-A Charlotte and outrighted right-handed pitcher Alexander Colomé to the minor league membership. … 2B Elvis Andrus was being evaluated after experiencing some discomfort in his indirect space on a swing.

UP NEXT

White Sox ace Dylan Cease (2-2, 5.58 ERA) appears to finish a string of tough begins, whereas RHP Brandon Bielak (0-1, 4.15) will get the ball for the Astros. Cease is 0-2 with a ten.00 ERA in his previous 4 outings.

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