Joseph, Hernandez homer as Phillies beat White Sox 5-3

CHICAGO (AP) Battered in back-to-back games, the Phillies came out swinging this time.

Tommy Joseph and Cesar Hernandez homered to back Jerad Eickhoff, and struggling Philadelphia beat the Chicago White Sox 5-3 on Wednesday night.

Philadelphia showed some spark at the plate and on the mound after getting outscored a combined 18-1 over the previous two games against St. Louis and Chicago. The Phillies came away with the win after dropping five of seven and salvaged a two-game split in their first trip to Chicago's South Side since 2004.

''These guys are grinding,'' Eickhoff said. ''They're pushing themselves each and every night. For them to put some runs up there, it was a great feeling. I was just trying to keep us in the game and keep us getting in the dugout in any way, shape or form.''

Joseph and Hernandez both had two hits and went deep against James Shields (5-16). Aaron Altherr added two RBI singles.

Eickhoff (9-12) did his part, allowing two runs and four hits over six innings.

Jeanmar Gomez worked the ninth for his 34th save in 38 chances. He gave up an RBI single to Avisail Garcia before Dioner Navarro grounded out with runners on first and third to end the game.

The White Sox announced hours before the game that their ballpark is getting a new name. U.S. Cellular Field will be called Guaranteed Rate Field starting in November under a 13-year deal with the mortgage company.

But while a major change is coming, things basically remained the same for a team with a losing record this year and one playoff appearance since winning the 2005 World Series.

Shields set a career high with his 16th loss.

The veteran right-hander gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked none.

The home runs by Hernandez leading off the third and Joseph in the sixth brought Shields' total to 31 this season and 22 since the White Sox acquired him from San Diego on June 4.

''Honestly, I think the only pitch I made a mistake on was that last one, the home run in the sixth inning,'' he said. ''The ball kind of slipped out of my hand a little bit and I left it over the plate. Other than that, I felt really good with my location tonight. I was hitting my spots consistently. They were getting hits here and there, but that's part of it.''

Shields is 0-4 with a 13.95 ERA in five starts this month after posting a 1.78 ERA over five outings in July.

Navarro hit a two-run homer in the sixth. But that was all the scoring against Eickhoff, who improved to 3-0 in his past five starts.

THOMPSON STAYS

Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said it's likely struggling rookie RHP Jake Thompson will stay in the rotation. He has a 9.78 ERA after four starts.

''I think what he's doing now is he's trying to make perfect pitches and trying too hard,'' Mackanin said.

SURGING

Chicago's Jose Abreu is batting .367 this month, and Adam Eaton is 16 for 45 in his past 11 games. Both had a hit in this game.

For Philadelphia, Hernandez is 14 of 33 over his past nine games. And Joseph has three homers in his past nine games.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: INF Andres Blanco (broken finger) is eyeing a Sept. 1 return.

White Sox: 2B Brett Lawrie had an MRI on his left knee and hip, though manager Robin Ventura did not have the results. Lawrie initially was placed on the DL because of a hamstring issue but returned from his rehab assignment because of a setback.

UP NEXT

Phillies: The Phillies open a three-game series at the Mets on Friday, with LHP Adam Morgan (1-7, 6.21 ERA) starting for Philadelphia and RHP Bartolo Colon (11-7, 3.36) for New York.

White Sox: RHP Anthony Ranaudo (1-1, 9.42) makes his third start for the White Sox as Chicago opens a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners.