Rivera, Rojas help Diamondbacks ease past White Sox 7-2

CHICAGO -- — Josh Rojas hit a three-run double and Emmanual Rivera had a two-run homer in a six-run inning, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago White Sox 7-2 on Friday night.

Chicago product Alek Thomas hit a deep sacrifice fly to score Christian Walker to start Arizona’s frenetic second inning. White Sox starter Johnny Cueto (6-6) walked Geraldo Perdomo to load the bases, and Rojas followed with his 20th double of the year. Four pitches later, Rivera hit his 11th home run of the season to make it 6-0.

Cueto’s struggles continued into the third when Daulton Varsho homered to right on a full count, just clearing the fence to give Arizona a 7-0 lead.

Cueto struggled in a five-inning outing, giving up all seven runs and five hits. He struck out four and walked two.

Tommy Henry (3-2) allowed one run and four hits through his five innings. He walked three and struck out three.

Elvis Andrus, making his White Sox debut, got Chicago on the scoreboard in the fourth with a grounder that scored Eloy Jiménez. AJ Pollock hit his eighth homer of the season in the ninth to close the scoring.

Varsho made a leaping grab at the right-field fence to deny Romy Gonzalez a home run in the fifth. Thomas also made two diving catches in center field to deny Chicago base hits.

Chicago (63-63) dropped back to .500 on the year after entering the day trailing AL Central leaders Cleveland by four games.

Arizona won for the second time in six games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: RHP Reyes Moronta was activated on Thursday after being claimed off waivers on Sunday. RHP Chris Devenski was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot. Manager Torey Lovullo said “we’d love to have (Devenski) back” should he clear waivers. ... Lovullo said he gave LF Jake McCarthy a rest day.

White Sox: CF Luis Robert (wrist) remains active, but Tony La Russa said he is unlikely to play this weekend. Robert missed seven games near the tail end of July due to a left wrist sprain, which La Russa said gets aggravated when Robert “takes a funky swing.” ... INF Yoán Moncada (hamstring tightness) is day-to-day after exiting Thursday’s loss at Baltimore. La Russa said he is “sore” and that he could play Saturday or Sunday. ... SS Tim Anderson (torn left hand ligament) is on schedule to return in September, according to La Russa. He added that Anderson has stayed in shape and “soon, he’ll start swinging.

UP NEXT

RHP Merrill Kelly (10-5, 2.87 ERA) gets the call for Arizona and Davis Martin (2-3, 4.25 ERA) is set to start for Chicago.

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