HOUSTON -- Manager Tony La Russa does not have a negative view of his team’s weekend performance at Minute Maid Park, despite Saturday’s 7-3 setback, marking a third-straight loss in this four-game series against the Astros.

“They're not playing any harder than we are. They're just playing better,” La Russa said after his team was hit with its second three-game losing streak this season. “Whether it's a better pitcher at a certain time, or a better at-bat.”

"We have the fight, and I know it's in every single one of us,” White Sox left fielder Andrew Vaughn said. “We've got to flush it and get on to the next one."

Thursday’s 10-2 loss in Houston got away quickly from the White Sox (43-28), who still hold a 3 1/2 game lead over the Indians in the American League Central. After Friday’s walk-off loss on Yordan Alvarez’s game-winning double, Saturday once again looked one-sided, in favor of Houston (42-28).

Even White Sox starter Lance Lynn was caught in the Astros’ blastoff.

Lynn entered the contest with a 1.51 ERA, the second-lowest White Sox ERA after 12 starts since 1920, but exited with a 2.02 ERA after allowing five earned runs on eight hits over four innings pitched. Against Houston, Lynn has given up 28 earned runs in his last 29 2/3 innings covering five starts, with an 0-5 mark during those struggles, and has allowed 26 earned runs over his last 38 2/3 innings at Minute Maid Park, where he is 0-6 in his last six starts.

Robel García inflicted the greatest damage during a four-run third, launching a two-out double on a 95.9 mph four-seam fastball to clear the bases and give the Astros a 5-1 lead.

“I just didn’t make the big pitch I needed to when they scored the four runs that inning,” Lynn said. “It’s that simple. One bad pitch. Some ground-ball hits. And the three-run double there. Those games will happen. If I make that pitch right there, it could be a totally different ballgame.”

“He probably got too much of the plate on some of those. And they were ready to hit,” La Russa said. “The offense there on the other side was aggressive early, and they got to him. Actually, they were aggressive all night long. I'm looking forward to the next time he faces them, because he's got weapons he didn't get to use today against them.”

According to Statcast, Lynn’s spin rate was down considerably on his four-seamer, cutter and sinker. The veteran right-hander, who dropped to 7-3 with a second straight loss after six consecutive winning decisions, addressed not feeling right on the mound.

“We had some issues mechanically and arm-slot wise tonight,” Lynn said. “We have to get that cleaned up and physically, everything will feel better next time out.”

Houston starter Framber Valdez (4-0) held the White Sox to one run over six innings before Vaughn connected for a solo home run to right to open the seventh. Vaughn would have hit in the sixth with two runners on and two outs after Yasmani Grandal was ruled to have been hit by a pitch.

But the Astros challenged, and the call was overturned with Grandal flying out to deep right field to end the frame. Vaughn represented the tying run at the plate with two outs in the eighth but popped out to shortstop Carlos Correa against reliever Ryne Stanek.  

“It was a good pitch to hit, and I just got under it. It happens,” said Vaughn, who finished the game with two hits and a walk. “I thought I was seeing [the ball] pretty well. I had a good approach today and just went out there and battled." 

Dallas Keuchel will face the Astros for the first time in his career after pitching seven seasons and winning the AL Cy Young Award and a World Series title in Houston, as the White Sox battle on Father’s Day to avoid a four-game road sweep. It’s playoff-like atmosphere, with the White Sox showing a postseason sort of grit, but the South Siders have fallen short on the positive results. 

"The last couple of games, the last couple of weeks, have been pretty much playoff atmosphere,” Vaughn said. “We're getting full crowds, and it's good baseball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It's been a tough couple of days, but we get to get back on the horse tomorrow." 

“Overall, they didn't play any harder, but they played better,” La Russa reiterated. “We're capable of turning that around."