White Sox rookie Drew Thorpe tosses six scoreless innings in first major-league victory

DETROIT — Two out of three. Not bad.

Drew Thorpe, the White Sox’ highest-rated right-handed pitching prospect, put together his second good start in three major-league outings Saturday, holding the Tigers scoreless for six innings in a 5-1 victory.

After shining by allowing one earned run in Seattle and bombing by yielding seven earned runs against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix, Thorpe pitched around four walks and earned his first career victory. He struck out five, allowed two hits — bloop doubles by Riley Greene and Wenceel Perez — and got seven ground-ball outs.

‘‘Super-excited about that,’’ Thorpe said of receiving a beer shower from teammates. ‘‘It’s exciting to get the first one.’’

Sox starting pitchers have an American League-best 2.77 ERA in their last 15 games. The Sox (21-57) are 6-9 in those games.

Thorpe threw 94 pitches, 47 for strikes.

‘‘Has one of the best changeups out there, I believe,’’ catcher Korey Lee said. ‘‘He committed the fastball to the top of the zone, in and out, righties and lefties. Had his secondary stuff going, too. We all knew his stuff played here. It’s a matter of him getting comfortable and solidifying the fact it does work.’’

Lee hit his seventh home run on a 10-pitch at-bat against left-hander Joey Wentz, and Nicky Lopez (three hits), Andrew Vaughn (two), Paul DeJong and Lenyn Sosa had an RBI apiece as the Sox built a 5-0 lead. Vaughn leads the team with 35 RBI.

Justin Anderson pitched a scoreless seventh and John Brebbia allowed a run in the eighth before Michael Kopech pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing a walk and a single and striking out two.

Grifol stumps for Kopech

Manager Pedro Grifol said Kopech, who needed 23 pitches to get through the ninth, will become more consistently effective when he relies on more than his upper-90s fastball, which he throws 79% of the time.

‘‘I’d like him to really manage the game, read swings and understand what needs to be thrown at the right time,’’ Grifol said.

Kopech diversified his arsenal more as a starter. He has thrown his slider 11% of the time and his cutter 10%.

‘‘You can’t have guys sit on one thing all the time, or they’ll hit you,’’ Grifol said. ‘‘When he shows power and pitchability — and he’s learning to do both — he might be one of the best relievers in the game. That’s why I think he’s going to be a stud in the back end of the pen. He’s going to figure this thing out.’’

Jimenez close

Designated hitter Eloy Jimenez (strained hamstring) might come off the injured list as soon as Monday, Grifol said.

‘‘His timing is good, he’s up to 90% running, he’s passed the test,’’ Grifol said. ‘‘We could use his bat.’’

Jimenez was 8-for-18 with a double and a homer in six games with the Sox’ team in the Arizona Complex League.

Hello, old friend

Tigers broadcaster Jason Benetti, the Sox’ TV voice in 2016-23, was a visitor in the clubhouse. Players were happy to see him.

Benetti’s partner in the Tigers’ broadcast booth, Craig Monroe, has been absent since June 9. Dan Petry has filled in to work seven games with Benetti.

The Tigers and Bally Sports Detroit finally addressed Monroe’s absence Friday, saying he’s dealing with a personal matter but offering no details and directing further inquiries to Monroe.