CHICAGO -- Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like Rate Field for the White Sox.
After losing five of six on the road to open the season, the South Siders returned home Friday to upend the Blue Jays, 5-4, on a walk-off single in the 10th by Tristan Peters off closer Jeff Hoffman in front of 33,171 fans. The opener in Chicago was moved back one day from Thursday due to the forecast of inclement weather throughout the day.
The White Sox held a 3-1 lead entering the eighth before Andrés Giménez connected for a game-tying home run off Jordan Leasure. The White Sox had toppled Dylan Cease, their one-time ace, putting up three of their runs over his 4 2/3 innings.
That support was enough for Grant Taylor, who pitched a perfect first as the opener, and Sean Burke, who allowed one run over six innings as the bulk hurler. Burke struck out seven, and most importantly, didn’t issue a walk.
Derek Hill brought home the game-tying run with a two-out bunt in the 10th, as catcher Tyler Heineman threw the ball into right field to bring in Miguel Vargas. Heineman had replaced catcher Alejandro Kirk, who appeared to injure his left hand, two hitters earlier.