Jimenez hits 1st 2 HRs, ChiSox top Yanks in soggy 6+ innings

NEW YORK (AP) — Eloy Jimenez hit his first two major league homers, including a tiebreaking shot in the fifth inning, and the Chicago White Sox ended a five-game skid by beating the banged-up New York Yankees 9-6 in a rain-shortened game Friday night.

Jimenez’s two-run drive off Jonathan Holder made it 7-5, and he added a 446-foot solo homer in the seventh. James McCann followed with his first homer of the season, and then umpires pulled the teams off the field with one out. The game was called about 40 minutes later.

The Yankees have lost four straight and placed catcher Gary Sánchez on the 10-day injured list prior to the game with a strained left calf, the 12th New York player currently on the IL.

The team also revealed that right-handed reliever Dellin Betances, already among that achy dozen, got an MRI to re-evaluate his right shoulder after a simulated game Thursday did not go well. General manager Brian Cashman said Betances will get cortisone shot Saturday for inflammation around a bone spur in his shoulder.

The game started in a steady mist, and the rain worsened as the night wore on.

Chicago starter Lucas Giolito (2-1) had a pitch sail out of his hands to the backstop in the fifth, Yankees lefty J.A. Happ (0-2) bounced an unusual number of breaking balls and White Sox right-hander Nate Jones struggled with his grip while escaping a jam in the sixth.

By the end of the inning, Jones was furiously wiping his hands on his damp uniform between each pitch. He nearly beaned Aaron Judge with a 95 mph fastball, then plunked him with an offspeed pitch to load the bases with two outs. Luke Voit lined out to left field to end that threat. Jones got one out and wound up with his first save.

New York dropped to 5-8 despite leading in 12 of 13 games this season.

The Yankees were ahead 4-1 after three, but Chicago erased that two innings later. Yonder Alonso hit a tying two-run homer off Happ in the fifth that skipped off the top of the wall in right field, and Jimenez connected two batters later against Jonathan Holder.

The 22-year-old Jimenez is considered among baseball’s top prospects because of his power potential. He signed a $43 million, six-year contract during spring training, nearly double the amount of the previous high for a player under club control yet to make his major league debut.

After his first homer, Jimenez shot his fist in the air rounding first base and performed an elaborate handshake with fellow youngster Yoan Moncada at home plate. He was mobbed with sunflower seeds and gum in the dugout.

Chicago played its first night game this season after opening with 11 straight day tilts.

Brett Gardner had a solo homer for the Yankees, and DJ LeMahieu two hits, a walk and two RBIs. LeMahieu is batting .439 this season.

A DOZEN DOWN

Sánchez was surprised when an MRI on Thursday showed the strain, believing the tightness in his calf this week wouldn’t require him to miss more time. He is optimistic he will return when eligible.

More than half the Yankees starting lineup is hurt. Sánchez joined outfielders Giancarlo Stanton (strained left biceps) and Aaron Hicks (left lower back strain), shortstop Didi Gregorius (recovering from Tommy John surgery last October), third baseman Miguel Andújar (torn labrum in right shoulder) and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (strained left calf) on the IL.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

A moment of silence was held before the national anthem to honor former Yankees and White Sox right-hander Scott Sanderson, who died Thursday. The 1991 All-Star was 62 years old.

MOMENT OF PROTEST

Three fans were removed from the first deck in right field after they unfurled an approximately 30-foot sign reading “Declare Climate Emergency” during the third inning. The banner was draped from the section for about a minute, obstructing views for the fans in the seats below and drawing boos from the Yankee Stadium crowd. Security pulled up the sign and led fans out of the section. Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo said the fans were ejected because they acted belligerently when security asked them to remove the sign.

Earlier this month, the Yankees became the first North American sports team to sign on to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, which aims “to bring greenhouse emissions in line with the Paris Climate Change Agreement,” per a team release.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: Recalled LHP Josh Osich from Triple-A. He takes the spot left open by LHP Caleb Frare, who was optioned to Triple-A on Wednesday.

YANKEES: Andújar threw lightly for the second time Friday and felt good. He is trying to avoid surgery but first must prove he can “handle the throws necessary to play,” Boone said.

UP NEXT

Yankees LHP CC Sabathia makes his season debut following an angioplasty and right knee surgery in the offseason. The 38-year-old plans to retire after the season. Former New York RHP Ivan Nova (0-1, 7.71) is set to start for Chicago.