Jack Kochanowicz threw six innings of two-run ball and Kyren Paris hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning, helping the visiting Los Angeles Angels post a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.
Nolan Schanuel finished with a pair of hits for the Angels (2-1), who won their second game in a row and clinched the season-opening three-game series.
Luis Robert Jr. and Matt Thaiss each tallied two hits for the White Sox (1-2), while starter Davis Martin threw six innings and allowed two runs (none earned) and four hits in his season debut.
After the game’s opening batter, Taylor Ward. reached on Chicago shortstop Jacob Amaya’s fielding error, Schanuel and Mike Trout’s singles loaded the bases with nobody out, before Jorge Soler’s sacrifice fly and Yoan Moncada’s groundout gave the Angels a 2-0 edge.
Nick Maton then cut the White Sox’ deficit in half with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first off Kochanowicz. Robert then singled and advanced to third on back-to-back fly outs, and scored on Thaiss’ game-tying single to right.
Neither team threatened again until the top of the sixth inning, when Ward’s leadoff single and Soler’s two-out ground-run double placed runners at second and third for Moncada, who became Martin’s second strikeout victim.
Bryse Wilson then replaced Martin for the top of the seventh, throwing a perfect frame — including a six-pitch strikeout of Tim Anderson to end the inning.
Los Angeles’ reliever Ryan Zeferjahn entered in the bottom of the seventh, where he was greeted with Thaiss’ one-out double before a rain delay of two hours and 48 minutes. After the tarp was pulled, Ben Joyce (1-0) relieved Zeferjahn to close out the seventh inning.
With Cam Booser (0-1) pitching for Chicago, Paris sent the second home run of his career 397 feet to left field, giving the Angels a 3-2 edge in the top of the eighth.
Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen allowed Andrew Vaughn’s leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth, followed by Thaiss’ walk. After getting Miguel Vargas to pop out, Jansen forced Brooks Baldwin into a game-ending double play, earning his second save.
