Braden Montgomery went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, including a three-run home run in a six-run first inning, and Sam Antonacci also homered as the host Chicago White Sox routed the skidding Athletics 9-1 on Sunday.
Chicago, which has lost 100 games in each of the past three seasons, completed a three-game sweep of the A’s to enter the All-Star break atop the American League Central, a half-game ahead of Cleveland.
Shea Langeliers connected on a solo shot against Noah Schultz to give the Athletics a lead three batters into the game, marking the first time the club has held an advantage since July 1.
Antonacci hit a leadoff homer in the bottom half, beginning a tough day for right-hander J.T. Ginn and the A’s, who have now lost nine straight and 13 of 14.
Ginn allowed six of the first seven White Sox to reach base. Braden Montgomery’s home run capped the early outburst after Kyle Teel delivered a two-run single.
Although Ginn retired nine in a row during one stretch spanning the second and fifth innings, Chicago’s crooked number in the first proved too much to overcome. Ginn fell to 7-6 after yielding eight runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Schultz (3-6) picked up his first victory since May 1, limiting the A’s to one run and four hits in five innings. The rookie left-hander struck out four with zero walks.
While Schultz navigated baserunners in each inning but the third, including a hit-by-pitch and a pair of errors behind him, he held the Athletics scoreless after Langeliers’ home run.
The White Sox bullpen followed with a dominant showing. Schultz and relievers Jordan Hicks, Seranthony Dominguez and Tyler Schweitzer retired nine straight before Joshua Kuroda-Grauer doubled with one out in the eighth.
Chicago’s relief corps allowed two hits in four innings with four strikeouts. The pitching staff did not issue a walk.
Miguel Vargas and Teel had two hits apiece for the White Sox.
The Athletics were outscored 40-6 during a six-game road trip to Detroit and Chicago to finish the first half.
