Jonathan Cannon earns first major league win as White Sox shut out Astros 2-0

CHICAGO (AP) — Jonathan Cannon threw seven hits in the ninth inning in his first major league win, helping the Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros 2-0 on Tuesday night.

Cannon, a third-round pick in the 2022 amateur draft, struck out four and walked one. He threw 106 pitches, 70 of them for strikes, in his fifth career start and sixth appearance overall.

“It means a lot,” Cannon said of his first big league win. “I think this is hopefully the first of many.”

The White Sox (20-54) became the last major league team to reach 20 wins this season. They improved to 13-23 at home.

Cannon received a warm ovation when he left after Jon Singleton and Mauricio Dubón singled with two outs in the ninth. John Brebbia then retired Victor Caratini on a grounder to first for his second save of the season.

Cannon (1-1) made his debut in April but was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte after allowing 11 runs in 13 2/3 innings in three starts. He has allowed one run and 14 hits in 18 2/3 innings since being called up by the White Sox on June 7.

“I feel like everything is a little sharper than last time,” Cannon said. “Just watching some of the videos from some of my previous releases, I like my stuff a lot better where it is right now.”

Cannon also worked on his approach to left-handed hitting after returning to the minors. Looks like he put this time to good use.

“He’s a special kid,” Chicago manager Pedro Grifol said. “And it’s not just the talent, it’s the makeup, it’s the intangibles. It’s about how hungry he is to learn and how he applies, how he receives the information.

Alex Bregman and Trey Cabbage each had two hits for Houston.

The Astros played without slugger Yordan Alvarez, who is hitting .365 with five homers and 15 RBIs in June. Manager Joe Espada said Alvarez was dealing with a family matter, but could be back in the lineup as early as Wednesday.

“We couldn’t do much offensively,” Espada said. “I thought the game plan before the game was pretty good. (Cannon) mixes his pitches really well.

Framber Valdez (5-5) allowed two hits in six innings, but two of his five walks were scores. Frustrated with the strike zone, Espada was ejected by home plate umpire Derek Thomas in the bottom of the third.

Andrew Vaughn drove in each of Chicago’s runs on fielder’s choice grounders with the bases loaded, one in the third and another in the fifth.

TRAINERS ROOM

Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (neck discomfort) was placed on the 15-day injured list and RHP Nick Hernandez was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land. … Espada said C Yainer Diaz (right hand) “did well” after making his first start at catcher Sunday since June 9.

White Sox: DH Eloy Jiménez (left hamstring strain) could return next week, GM Chris Getz said. Jiménez is on a rehabilitation mission in the Arizona Complex League.

FOLLOWING

Garrett Crochet (6-5, 3.16 ERA) pitches for Chicago on Wednesday night. The southpaw is 5-1 with a 1.36 ERA in his last nine starts. Hunter Brown (3-5, 5.00) takes the mound for Houston. The right-hander is on a 13-inning scoreless streak after winning each of his last two starts.

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