CINCINNATI _ Losing Jose Abreu to a bruised left ankle hurt the White Sox in more ways than one during Monday's 5-3 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
Matt Davidson replaced Abreu at first base and made a critical misstep _ literally _ during a bases-loaded situation in the eighth. After Adam Duvall slapped a fielder's choice to first, Davidson failed to step on the bag before his attempt to double off Scooter Gennett. Duvall was safe and Gennett scored.
Eugenio Suarez tied the game on Billy Hamilton's sacrifice fly, and the Sox lost a challenge on Suarez's slide. Pinch hitter Alex Blandino salted it away with a two-run double to right.
Abreu left in the seventh and is day to day.
He fouled a ball off his foot in the sixth, and after an injury delay, he continued his at-bat and grounded out. Still playing first base in the bottom of the inning, his limp was evident on his jog off the field after Jesse Winker lined out to him. Davidson pinch hit for Abreu in the seventh and stayed in the game.
James Shields gave up a home run to Scott Schebler on the first pitch, though that was the only damage against Shields, while for six innings Sox batters couldn't figure out Luis Castillo.
The 25-year-old came into the game with a 5.85 ERA and was facing the Sox for the first time in his career. He held them scoreless through six and struck out six in that span.
Castillo's hot hand finally cooled in the seventh. Adam Engel singled and Shields moved him over on a sacrifice bunt. Castillo was up to 101 pitches, so Reds manager Jim Riggleman decided not to press his luck and summoned Amir Garrett.
Yoan Moncada doubled off Garrett on an 0-1 pitch to score Engel, giving Castillo his one blemish with an earned run. Yolmer Sanchez singled home Moncada with the go-ahead run, and Avisail Garcia made it 3-1 with a home run in the eighth.
It was another banner night for Garcia, who has been on a roll since returning from the disabled list in June and has carried it over to July.
In addition to his homer off Jared Hughes, he was one of four Sox hitters with two hits. His single in the sixth extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games.
The Sox had 11 hits to the Reds' seven.
