Early hitting, studly pitching combine to blank the Sox 7-0

Trevor Williams scattered six hits over seven innings, Adam Frazier smashed a leadoff homer and the lineup plated six runs in the first two innings as the Pirates downed the visiting White Sox 7-0. It was the team’s major leading seventh shutout and sixth win in their last seven games. Chicago starter Reynaldo Lopez suffered all six of those early runs.

The game was never in doubt as Pittsburgh plated three runs only seven pitches into the game. Frazier hit the second pitch he saw deep into the right field seats above the Clemente Wall. On a 2-0 pitch Gregory Polanco laced a single into right, and then both Starling Marte and Josh Bell doubled on the first pitches they saw. Lopez got the next two hitter, Dickerson and Cervelli, but left fielder Nicky Delmonico lost sight of Colin Moran’s deep fly which fell behind him for another double and the fourth run of the inning.

With two outs in the second, Polanco walked and Sean Rodriguez, who had entered the game after Marte experienced discomfort in his side running the bases in the first inning, drove a ball high off the center field fence for a triple. He scored the sixth run when Josh Bell’s drive hit high off the right field wall for his second RBI double of the game.

Williams struck out six while not walking a batter, throwing 64 of 94 pitches for strikes as he won his fifth game of the year. Kyle Crick and Richard Rodriguez each tossed an inning to complete the shutout.

The win improves the Pirates’ record to 24-17, a half game behind the Brewers who are in Arizona, and a half game ahead of the Cardinals who trail late to Minnesota.

The two game series concludes tomorrow at 12:35 as the Pirates attempt to complete a season sweep of the White Sox.