Sox hit four homers Friday, but it was two defensive plays that stole show

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The solo home runs Friday by Andrew Benintendi, Lenyn Sosa, Colson Montgomery and Josh Rojas were nice, representing a continuation of a power surge in which the White Sox have hit 27 homers and averaged 6.9 runs in their first 13 games since the All-Star break.

But it was two big defensive plays, both of which resulted in outs at third base, that were probably most responsible for the 6-3 victory Friday against the Angels that lifted the Sox’ record to 9-4 since the break.

Right-hander Shane Smith struggled out of the gate in his first start since July 11, with the Angels loading the bases with no outs in the first inning on a walk to Zach Neto, a single by Nolan Schanuel and a walk to Taylor Ward.

But catcher Edgar Quero picked off Neto at third, and Smith struck out Jo Adell. After walking Yoan Moncada, Smith got Logan O’Hoppe to ground out, ending an ugly inning in which he threw 35 pitches, walked three, gave up a hit and somehow didn’t yield a run.

‘‘I felt like [Neto] was getting off the bag far enough to where it gave us a chance,’’ said Rojas, the Sox’ third baseman. ‘‘He was leaning as the pitch crossed the plate, so I felt like we could give it a shot.’’

Rojas also made a quick catch-and-tag on a relay play that prevented the Angels from scoring the tying run in the seventh.

The Angels had pulled to 4-3 on a sacrifice fly by Neto and had runners on first and second with two outs when Schanuel singled sharply to right. Outfielder Mike Tauchman threw to shortstop Montgomery, who fired to Rojas, who tagged out Gustavo Campero before Travis d’Arnaud — who was trying to score from second — crossed the plate. Umpire John Tumpane’s initial call was upheld by replay.

‘‘That was a huge play, a great job by everyone involved, starting with ‘Tauch’ to get the ball in and Colson with the relay,’’ manager Will Venable said. ‘‘And Rojas had an awareness for the situation when he put the tag on.’’

Pitching in

Smith, who missed three weeks because of a sprained left ankle, recovered from his shaky first to throw three hitless innings before giving up a two-run homer to Campero in the fifth. He didn’t earn the victory, but he gave the Sox a chance by yielding two runs and two hits in 4⅓ innings.

‘‘I definitely didn’t make it easy on myself,’’ Smith said, ‘‘but I settled in and was glad to get the length I had after throwing 35 pitches in the first.’’

The Sox also got some stout relief from right-handers Jordan Leasure, who struck out four of the five batters he faced in the fifth and sixth, and Steven Wilson, who retired the side in order in the eighth and struck out the side in the ninth for a six-out save.

‘‘They were amazing,’’ Venable said, ‘‘and we needed every one of those outs after a short start by Smitty.’’

Milestone victory

The Sox entered play Saturday with an American League-worst 41-69 record, but the victory Friday enabled them to match their win total from 2024 with two months left.

‘‘I think we felt a difference in spring training,’’ said Rojas, who wasn’t on the 121-loss team of last season. ‘‘We have a lot of young guys who are hungry to be successful at the big-league level, and I think we’re seeing that post-All-Star break.’’

Two of the Sox’ hottest hitters have been Montgomery, a 23-year-old who has six homers in his last nine games, and Sosa, a 25-year-old who is batting .522 (12-for-23) with two homers and nine RBI in his last seven games.

‘‘The young guys have been on fire to start the second half,’’ Rojas said, ‘‘and it’s been fun to watch.’’

Roster moves

The Sox put reliever Dan Altavilla, who gave up a single, a walk and a hit batsman while getting only one out Friday, on the 15-day injured list with a strained lat, an injury he said will sideline him ‘‘for a couple of weeks.’’ The Sox recalled right-hander Owen White from Triple-A Charlotte to take his spot on the roster.

• First baseman Ryan Noda was claimed off waivers by the Orioles.

Late scratch

First baseman Miguel Vargas, originally in the lineup and batting fourth, was scratched because of a left oblique strain.