Hunter Brown pitches 6 impressive innings, César Salazar scores 2 in Astros’ 4-1 win over White Sox

Mauricio Dubón drove in a run with a groundout and a single to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. Chas McCormick added a sacrifice fly.

Andrew Benintendi hit a solo homer in the fourth for Chicago, ending Brown’s scoreless streak of 16 innings, a season high for an Astros pitcher.

Brown (4-5) scattered seven hits, struck out six and walked none in his sixth straight quality start. The 25-year-old right-hander, in his second season in Houston’s rotation, lowered his ERA to 4.72 after a rough start.

“He was really good and efficient,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “You know, his stuff, he just keeps getting better and better every time he’s out there.”

Brown was 0-4 with a 9.78 ERA after six starts in April. The Detroit native is 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA in nine games since.

Delivering fewer walks, 16 in his last nine outings, was part of his recovery.

“It’s been a priority for every pitcher for probably forever,” Brown said. “You know, free passes can have certain dangers, so you try to avoid them at all costs.”

What helped Brown flip the control switch?

“Honestly, I wish I could identify it with something,” he said. “But, you know, you just have to work in between rides and know that the results will come eventually.”

Three relievers followed with three innings of one-hit ball. Josh Hader worked around a single in the ninth for his 10th save.

Salazar went 2 for 2 in his second game this season and first multi-hit game of his career. He entered in the third inning after starting catcher Victor Caratini left with left leg discomfort after being thrown out at the plate.

Recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on June 11, Salazar began the night with just three hits in 20 at-bats in 14 games.

“Sally is ready, he’s always ready,” Espada said. “He came in and took a big hit against a tough pitcher. Sally played a big role in our victory tonight.

White Sox starter Garrett Crochet (6-6) pitched six innings, allowing three runs and nine hits. The left-hander struck out eight and walked one.

“I thought Crochet threw the ball well,” Chicago manager Pedro Grifol said. “They started attacking early and a few balls found holes there.

“I think he did a really good job minimizing the damage.”

The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the third after loading the bases with one out. McCormick scored from third on Dubón’s groundout when Chicago got a force to second, but couldn’t complete a double play.

Houston made it 2-0 in the fourth on Salazar’s single.

Benintendi’s homer down the line to right in the bottom half cut the score to 2-1.

After Meyers doubled in the sixth, Salazar followed with a grounder up the middle to make it 3-1.

Meyers scored again on McCormick’s sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Astros: OF Kyle Tucker (right shin contusion) still has not started on-field baseball activities, Espada said. “The recovery is slow and we all hoped it would have been faster,” Espada added. The slugger hit 19 home runs when he was injured June 3 when he fouled his shin against the Cardinals.

White Sox: Grifol said RHP Mike Clevinger (right elbow inflammation) will need at least one more rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte. The 33-year-old right-hander allowed two runs and four hits in three innings on Tuesday. Clevinger participated in the 15-day IL on May 28.

Houston will send Spencer Arrighetti (3-6, 6.37) to the mound against Chicago’s Chris Flexen (2-6, 5.35) in the series finale Thursday afternoon.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb