Back-to-back homers spark Reds' rout of White Sox

Elly De La Cruz and Tyler Stephenson connected for back-to-back home runs and Andrew Abbott pitched seven strong innings to lift the Cincinnati Reds to an 11-1 win against the host Chicago White Sox on Friday.

Cincinnati collected 12 hits, including five for extra bases, while drawing nine walks.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Santiago Espinal and De La Cruz each contributed two hits and three RBIs to the Reds' attack. It was plenty of support for Abbott (1-1).

The left-hander gave up one run and four hits in a season-high seven innings while striking out three and walking none. The Cincinnati defense was sharp, as well. Reds right fielder Jake Fraley crashed against the fence to rob Paul DeJong of a hit to end the Chicago second.

Fraley singled home a run to start the scoring in Cincinnati's five-run third, his first of two hits.

Chris Flexen endured the shortest among his three starts with the White Sox, as the Reds reached the right-hander for six runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings. Flexen (0-3) fanned two and walked one.

Flexen, who made a quality start against the Kansas City Royals on April 6, appeared to be finding his effectiveness again Friday after surrendering a first-inning run. He set down six straight Reds spanning the first through third innings before allowing five straight Cincinnati hitters to reach base in the third.

The last two in that stretch blasted home runs. De La Cruz launched a three-run shot to right-center field, homering for the second straight game, and Stephenson followed with a solo shot to right.

Chicago followed Cincinnati's five-run third inning by producing its lone run of the night in the bottom half. Robbie Grossman hit a two-out double to score Zach Remillard.

Lefty Jared Shuster kept the White Sox afloat, pitching 3 1/3 innings of one-run, two-hit relief with two strikeouts and two walks.

Emilio Pagan and Buck Farmer each threw one inning to complete the four-hitter for the Reds.

The White Sox have been held to one run or none seven times in 13 games this season.