Local News

Abreu's walk-off slam sends White Sox past Rays

Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Jose Abreu crushed a game-winning grand slam 
in  the ninth inning, his second homer of the night, to send the Chicago Whit
Sox to a 9-6 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the opener of a four-game set. 

Evan  Longoria cracked a two-run shot off Matt Lindstrom (2-1) in the top half 
of  the  inning to break a  4-4 tie, but Chicago  rallied for five runs in the 
home half to take the win. 

With one out, Alejandro De Aza doubled before Grant Balfour (0-1) walked Tyler 
Flowers  and Paul Konerko. Adam Eaton grounded into a force out at second, but 
it  was enough  to score  De  Aza. Balfour  then walked  Marcus Semien  before 
serving up Abreu's grand slam. 

Balfour  left a fastball  up for the Cuban rookie, who hammered the pitch over 
the wall in right field. 

Abreu  finished the  game 3-for-5 with six  homers while De Aza added two hits 
and two RBI for the White Sox, winners in four of their last six games. 

"It's  impressive," said Eaton about his teammates Abreu. "The proof is in the 
pudding.  He works his  butt off everyday. He knows what he needs to do to get 
ready." 

Erik  Johnson  started for White Sox and  lasted just  1 2/3 innings. He 
allowed four runs on four hits and four walks before exiting. 

Rays  starter Chris  Archer was tagged for  four runs on nine hits over seven- 
plus innings in the setback. 

"We  played a really  good game (aside from the ninth inning)," said Tampa Bay 
manager Joe Maddon. "We just didn't get the hits that we needed to." 

Abreu's  RBI  single in the first  gave the White Sox a 1-0 lead. Adam Easton 
singled, stole second then scored when Abreu ripped a single up the middle. 

The Rays countered with a four-run second inning to capture the lead. Longoria 
singled  and moved to second on Johnson's wild pitch. Johnson retired the next 
two  hitters before issuing a two-out walk to David DeJesus, which would prove 
to  be costly.  Escobar followed with a  base hit to left that scored Longoria 
and Hanigan followed with a single to bring DeJesus around. 

Following  a  mound visit, Zobrist laced  a fastball to right to score Escobar 
and  Johnson walked  the next two hitters,  the last he would face, to force a 
run home. 

Chicago scored a run in the third and two in the fourth to tie the game. 

In the third, Abreu clobbered a solo homer to center to make it 4-2. 

In the fourth, Dayan Viciedo, Alexei Ramirez and De Aza opened the inning with 
three  straight  singles to load  the bases.  Following a mound visit, Flowers 
ripped a single up the middle to score Viciedo and Ramirez. 

Archer  would get out of the jam from there, though, getting Gordon Beckham to 
fly out before Eaton hit into an inning-ending double play. 

                                   Game Notes 

Abreu's  nine homers  are tied  for the  most by  a rookie  thru April  in MLB 
history  ...  The White Sox  were 4-for-11 with RISP  ... Eaton has two stolen 
bases  this season ... The Rays were 3-for-13 with RISP and left 11 runners on 
base ... Game time: 4:04. 

Townhall Top of the Hour News

Weather - Sponsored By:

TAYLORVILLE WEATHER

Local News

Facebook Feed - Sponsored By: