DETROIT — The White Sox are hitting again. They saved an overworked bullpen. And they completed a three-game sweep of the Tigers Wednesday with a 13-0 romp at Comerica Park.
Aside from oppressive heat and the seemingly daily dose of injury news — right-handed reliever Kyle Crick landed on the injured list with elbow inflammation — it was a beautiful and needed way for a struggling team to find some momentum heading into a three-game series against a much better team in the Astros this weekend.
The Sox (30-31) had lost four of five at home before this trip. A series win was badly needed. A sweep was soothing icing on a sweltering day.
“A day like this is good for your mind, your confidence,” said Yoan Moncada, who was mobbed by teammates in the dugout after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning. “During a bad stretch you can get a little down. It helps to reinforce your confidence.”
Danny Mendick and Seby Zavala also homered, and Moncada, starting his season on May 9 because of an oblique strain and struggling since, broke loose with a career-high five hits plus five RBI, three on his homer against Alex Faedo. It was the first long ball since May 14 from a hitter whose production is desperately needed. Moncada (.181) put 40 points on his batting average.
“He showed the stroke of a .300 hitter today,” manager Tony La Russa said, encouraged by what he saw. “Turned on an inside pitch. He really has a beautiful stroke. I think we can expect him to hit for a high average.”
José Abreu had four hits and drove in two runs, and Andrew Vaughn followed a four-hit night with three more. AJ Pollock had his seventh consecutive multihit game. Abreu is batting .362 with 18 RBI in his last 27 games. Vaughn is batting .400 in his last 14 games.
The Sox’ last five wins have come by four or more runs, and they’ve done it without Tim Anderson, their top hitter who is not expected back till after the Houston series. They had four such wins in their first 52 games.
Every Sox hitter in the starting lineup had at least one hit, including Josh Harrison, who might be fighting for his spot on the roster with Mendick looking like an everyday player in the middle of the infield in Anderson’s absence.
“The boys came to work today,” La Russa said.
The Sox had a season high 22 hits, seven of them in the last three innings against position players Harold Castro, Kody Clemens and Tucker Barnhart. Their previous season high was 16 on June 5 at Tampa. They are hitting .335 with 59 runs scored in their last seven games, averaging 8.4 per.
Davis Martin’s fastball command was on point, and he pitched 51⁄3 innings of three-hit ball with no walks for the win after starter Vince Velasquez, reinstated from the IL before the game, pitched 22⁄3 scoreless innings.
“The fact we swept this team was a big energy boost going into the series in Houston,” Velasquez said.
Martin received a postgame shower of “beer, potato salad, ranch [dressing], shaving cream, body wash and overnight oats” for his first major league win. He lowered his ERA to 3.05.
“It was a great experience, something I’ll remember the rest of my life,” Martin said.
It was hard to remember the last time the Sox enjoyed a needed blowout. It came on the third game of the season in a 10-1 win over the Tigers, who are 1-5 against the Sox.
“When you see several guys starting to swing and each guy feels like it’s going to be shared, the responsibility to get base hits, each guy does better,” La Russa said. “No doubt we’re taking better at-bats.”
NOTES: Michael Kopech will throw a bullpen on Thursday’s off day in Houston, testing his right knee for clearance to start Sunday night against the Astros.
*Jake Burger (bruised right hand) was available off the bench Wednesday and is expected to be ready to play Friday, La Russa said.
