White Sox win fifth straight, improve to .500 with first series sweep in nearly a year

OAKLAND, Calif. — Avisail Garcia homered, and Jeff Samardzija rebounded on the mound to lead the White Sox to a 7-3 victory over the A’s on Sunday at Oakland Coliseum, the first series sweep of the season for the South Siders.

The sweep was also the first in nearly a full calendar year for Chicago. The last time the Sox swept any opponent was the Royals on May 26-28 of last season.

The sweep was also the club’s first on the road since 2013, the first over Oakland since 2006, and the first in Oakland since 1997.

The Sox (17-17) improved to .500 with the win for the first time since Opening Day. They’ve not been above .500 this season.

Samardzija gave the Sox eight quality innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks. He struck out five.

Garcia continued his white-hot form, collecting three hits and blasting a two-run home run to right field in the ninth inning. It was Garcia’s sixth multi-hit effort in the last eight games.

The White Sox, who have won nine of 12, next return home for a four-game series against Cleveland.