The White Sox leaned on strong pitching to win the first two games of their series against the Reds in Cincinnati. Here are three takeaways.

On Thursday, Reds starting pitcher Nick Martinez (2-4) was in charge from the outset against Chicago and retired the first 13 batters he faced. Chicago didn't register a hit until Matt Thaiss's one-out single in the top of the fifth inning.

Elly De La Cruz, Will Benson and Matt McLain homered, Nick Martinez pitched seven shutout innings and the Cincinnati Reds snapped a three-game losing streak with a 7-1 win over the Chicago White Sox.