Kopech back on track after sticking to plan of attack   

NEW YORK -- The plan was simple for White Sox starter Michael Kopech: Attack the strike zone.

Coming off an outing in which he recorded just two outs -- allowing four runs on one hit and four walks in a blowout loss to the Braves on Friday night -- the right-hander needed to streamline his approach. That’s how manager Pedro Grifol put it, at least.

Kopech did that and then some in a crisp start against the Mets on Thursday afternoon, giving up only one run on two hits and four walks with five strikeouts across 5 2/3 innings to lead the White Sox to a 6-2 win in the series finale at Citi Field.

Kopech contained a New York offense that had scored 16 runs to open the three-game set, staving off a sweep attempt and allowing Chicago to carry some momentum into its weekend series against the American League Central-leading Twins at Target Field.

“[The Mets] are a patient club; they control the strike zone pretty well,” Grifol said prior to the finale. “The key for [Kopech’s] success is pounding the strike zone with his stuff. He’s got great stuff. If he does that, I think he’ll be fine.”

Though Kopech walked four batters, which Grifol had also cautioned could “run him into some trouble,” the 27-year-old was able to scatter them throughout his outing. His only other blemish was a two-out solo homer by Omar Narváez in the fifth.

“Getting ahead of guys -- that’s been the game plan all along,” Kopech said, “but today I was able to execute that. Still a few too many free bases, a little erratic at times, but for the most part, I was able to run with that and let the offense do what they did.”

Aided by the return of Eloy Jiménez, who was back in the cleanup spot as the designated hitter after missing the series’ first two games with left groin tightness, the White Sox gave Kopech plenty of support.

Jiménez laced an RBI single into right-center field over the leaping glove of Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil in the opening frame.

The White Sox put the game out of reach with a four-run sixth, which came right after former Chicago pitcher José Quintana -- who was making his Mets debut -- exited following five solid innings. A fielding error by first baseman Pete Alonso allowed leadoff hitter Luis Robert Jr. to reach, and the Sox then jumped all over Mets reliever Drew Smith.

With the bases loaded, Yasmani Grandal smacked a two-run double to the warning track in right-center. Then, after Oscar Colás’ sacrifice fly, Elvis Andrus capped the damage with an RBI triple to the same spot.

“It’s always easier when the starters are giving you zeros; it’s less pressure,” Andrus said. “And I think as an offense today, we felt like that. We haven’t felt like that in a while.”

Kopech earned his first victory since May 24 against the Guardians, when he pitched seven innings of two-hit ball. He came one out shy of completing the sixth inning, as Grifol opted to bring in southpaw Aaron Bummer to face the left-handed-hitting McNeil.

It was an unsurprising move given that Kopech hadn’t pitched past the fifth since his June 4 quality start against the Tigers. He lasted just 38 pitches in his previous outing in Atlanta, and that came on the heels of a two-week stint on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a little tired towards the end; I kind of knew that was going to happen,” Kopech said. “But I was talking to [pitching coach Ethan Katz] and Pedro about it after I came out -- even being tired, this is the best I’ve felt like I’ve been able to stay in my body.

“So to be able to do that and stretch out like I need to is key.”

Kopech allowed two hits or fewer for a seventh time this season in his 89-pitch outing against the Mets, which leads the AL. It’s the type of performance the White Sox know the 2014 first-round Draft pick is capable of delivering on a more consistent basis.

“He really worked hard these past five days with Ethan and [bullpen coach Curt Hasler],” Grifol said. “They made a ton of adjustments both physically and mentally. He went out and executed.”