The Cincinnati Reds avoided the sweep on Thursday and beat the Chicago White Sox 7-1. They used home runs from their young core. Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, and Will Benson all homered to fuel the Cincinnati offense.

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.