White Sox knock out Mariners in 11 innings
CHICAGO -- Tyler Saladino's single off reliever David Rollins scored Alexei Ramirez with the game-winning run in a 6-5 White Sox victory over the Mariners in 11 innings Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field. Ramirez started the rally with a one-out single and moved to second when Tyler Flowers walked on four pitches, helping the White Sox earn a split in this four-game set.
"That was a fun win. The whole game, all the way through something was happening," Saladino said. "To pull it off at the end there, that was awesome."
Austin Jackson tripled off Zach Duke with two outs in the eighth, leaving him a double short of the cycle, and Kyle Seager followed with the single to center to finish a triple shy of the cycle and give the Mariners a 5-4 lead. The White Sox put two on in the bottom of the eighth, but pinch-hitter Adam LaRoche, hitting for Avisail Garcia, flew out to left on a 2-0 pitch from Carson Smith. The White Sox tied the game in the ninth when shortstop Brad Miller threw away a routine Carlos Sanchez grounder up the middle with two outs, allowing Trayce Thompson to score from second.
"We had a great opportunity to win a game," said Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon. "You had two outs and a ground ball and we messed it up. … Our young relievers did a tremendous job for us today. Our young starter did a tremendous job today in adverse conditions."
Video: SEA@CWS: White Sox tie the game on Miller's error
The Mariners grabbed a 4-1 lead by virtue of a pair of two-run homers. Seager connected off of White Sox starter Jose Quintana in the first and Jackson went deep off Quintana in the second. Quintana allowed four runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings, needing 104 pitches to get into the fifth. He struck out eight and walked three, ultimately finishing with his 49th no-decision since 2012, which is tops in all of baseball.
Edgar Olmos also didn't factor in the final outcome as the Mariners starter. He worked five, giving up three runs on five hits and walking five. The White Sox cut the lead to one in the fourth on a run-scoring double from Tyler Saladino and a run-scoring groundout from Adam Eaton, and tied the game in the seventh when Melky Cabrera homered on a 0-2 pitch from Mayckol Guaipe.
Video: SEA@CWS: Cabrera's solo home run ties the game at 4
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
I'll have another: Seager continues to rebound from the 2-for-27 slump he was in before he was removed from the starting lineup on Thursday. The four-year veteran finished 8-for-16 in the four-game series with three home runs -- one in each of the last three games -- six RBIs and three runs scored, including a 3-for-6 performance on Sunday. The home run on Sunday was his sixth of the month, giving him as many as he had in June and July combined.
"I was able to make some adjustments and kind of simplify some things," Seager said, "and get back to what's made me successful in the past. Working with [hitting coach] Edgar [Martinez] has been really good." More >
Video: SEA@CWS: Seager homers to give Mariners an early lead
It could have been worse: Through four innings, the Mariners had seven hits, three walks (one intentional) and one White Sox error, but had scored only four runs against Quintana on the two home runs. Quintana pitched out of bases-loaded jams in the third and fourth. The White Sox escaped the fifth after the Mariners stranded two more runners.
Video: SEA@CWS: Jackson pads the lead with a two-run homer
First frame faltering: As White Sox manager Robin Ventura pointed out Saturday, Jeff Samardzija is not the lone White Sox starter struggling in the first inning. Seager's two-run homer off Quintana meant that the southpaw is now tied for second in the Majors with 24 first-inning runs allowed and sits just one behind Samardzija. Quintana's 41 first-inning hits allowed rank worst in the Majors.
"You would like to see Q better than that. He grinded through it," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "I don't know if this was just Jackson got him pretty good. Seager, they are the ones who swung the bat against him. We know he's better than this. He knows he's better than this."
Video: SEA@CWS: Quintana fans LoMo after missed strike call
Can't keep him away: Robinson Cano continued his torrid stretch at the plate to finish 2-for-4 with a walk on Sunday. The second baseman had reached base eight straight times -- including his 4-for-4 performance on Saturday -- until he grounded out in the sixth inning. Over his last 10 games, Cano has gone 16-for-39 with six walks.
QUOTABLE
"Obviously just trying to make the play and pulled the ball a little bit. It really wasn't even close. I had it secured. No rush, I just pulled it." -- Miller, on his errant throw in the ninth inning that allowed the tying run to score More >
"It's crazy how baseball is sometimes." -- Eaton, on the Miller throw that gave them new life as opposed to a third straight loss More >
NOT IN THE ZONE
Olmos threw 11 straight balls starting with Gordon Beckham's two-out at-bat in the second inning. He walked Beckham and Saladino on four pitches and went 3-0 on Eaton before coming back to get Eaton on a 3-2 grounder back to the mound. Olmos struck out Ramirez and Geovany Soto to open that frame.
ONE TO REMEMBER
After he made his Major League debut Saturday at third base, Mariners catcher John Hicks made his first start behind the plate on Sunday. Hicks recorded his first hit with a two-out single in the second inning before finishing the day 1-for-5. The White Sox tossed the ball to the Mariners dugout where Felix Hernandez pretended to give the ball to a fan.
WHAT'S NEXT
Mariners: Seattle continues its 11-game road stretch with a three-game set against the Astros beginning on Monday at Minute Maid Park. Vidal Nuno makes his fifth start of the season as ace Felix Hernandez has his start skipped. First pitch is slated for 5:10 p.m. PT.
White Sox: Chris Sale continues his quest for 300 strikeouts and the American League Cy Young Award when he takes the mound Tuesday at Target Field for a 7:10 p.m. CT first pitch. Sale has made four starts against the Twins this season and has a 1-3 record with a 6.46 ERA.
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