Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Jose Abreu's three-run blast in the eighth
inning sent the Chicago White Sox to a 4-2 victory over Oakland in the finale
of a three-game series.
Gordon Beckham finished 3-for-4 with a solo homer and scored twice for the
White Sox, who staved off a sweep and snapped a four-game losing skid
overall.
Ronald Belisario (2-3) tossed 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings for the win,
while Matt Lindstrom followed suit in the ninth for his sixth save. Anthony
Rienzo allowed two runs on as many hits over 6 1/3 frames.
John Jaso and Josh Donaldson each hit a solo blast for the Athletics, who saw
their six-game win streak come to a halt.
"We got off to a little bit of a slow start on the homestand, but came back
and played really well," said Oakland manager Bob Melvin after a 6-4
residency. "We're in a position to potentially win the game today. It just
ends up being a pitch to a guy who hit a three-run homer. Seems like he's hit
a few of those."
Fernando Abad (0-1) was charged in defeat for two runs on two hits while
recording only one out in the deciding frame. Tommy Milone had worked the
first six, giving up a run on five hits with four strikeouts.
Chicago moved ahead with five outs left. Beckham and Conor Gillaspie hit
consecutive one-out singles which forced Abad from the contest. Luke Gregerson
came on and promptly gave up a three-run blast to left by Abreu which gave the
White Sox a 4-2 advantage.
"I got the opportunity to hit a good pitch," Abreu said through his
translator. "All I was doing was trying to hit a ball in the air to bring the
guy in from third base. But I was able to get a good swing and a good pitch to
hit."
In the A's last turn at the plate, Lindstrom walked Jed Lowrie and gave up a
single to Donaldson, but induced a 4-6-3 double-play grounder from Brandon
Moss. Leury Garcia then dove to snag a sinking liner by Yoenis Cespedes in
center to end the contest.
Beckham slammed Milone's first pitch of the afternoon over the fence in left
to put the Sox on top.
Jaso returned the favor against Rienzo to kick off the home first and even
the score, then Donaldson barely cleared the right-field wall in the fourth to
give Oakland a 2-1 edge.
Game Notes
Both clubs are back in action on Friday, as the White Sox continue their nine-
game road trip in Houston, while the Athletics kick off a nine-game sojourn in
Cleveland ... Gillaspie also collected three hits for Chicago ... After losing
the first five meetings last season with Oakland, the White Sox have taken
three of the past five ... Prior to the contest, the White Sox announced that
infielder Jeff Keppinger was activated from the 15-day disabled list and
designated for assignment.