White Sox Keep Angels From Gaining Ground on Athletics in AL West Race

CHICAGO —  Steve Lyons hit a two-run single in the first inning and Shawn Hillegas won in his first start since May 26 as the Chicago White Sox beat the Angels, 2-1, Saturday night.

The loss kept the Angels 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Oakland Athletics in the American League West.

Hillegas, 7-10, allowed five hits and one run in five innings, striking out a season-high five. Hillegas had made 36 relief appearances since his last start.

Bobby Thigpen, the fourth White Sox pitcher, worked the final 1 2/3 innings for his 31st save and allowed no hits.

Kirk McCaskill, 15-9, lost despite allowing only three hits in eight innings.

Lance Johnson and Scott Fletcher walked to lead off the first inning and moved up on Ivan Calderon’s grounder. Carlton Fisk struck out for the second out, but Lyons singled to center.

The only other White Sox hits were Fisk’s leadoff double in the fourth and Calderon’s double in the eighth.

The Angels scored in the third when Claudell Washington reached on an infield hit, went to third on Devon White’s double and scored on Chili Davis’ infield single.