OAKLAND, Calif.—Armando Alvarez and Zack Gelof hit RBI singles, and Lawrence Butler knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly—all in the seventh inning—as the Oakland Athletics rallied past the Chicago White Sox 3–2 on Wednesday.
The White Sox lost their 10th straight series, one day after ending their American League record-tying 21-game losing streak. Chicago (28–89) hasn’t won consecutive games since a three-game streak from June 27–29. The White Sox fell to 8–24 in one-run games and 0–67 when trailing after seven innings.
Oakland (48–68) improved to 5–1–1 in its past seven series.
Andrew Benintendi hit a two-run home run—his second in as many games—off A’s starter Joey Estes in the second inning to give the White Sox an early lead.
Estes allowed two runs and six hits, with four strikeouts, in five innings, but did not figure in the decision.
Chicago starter Davis Martin limited Oakland to two hits and a walk, with four strikeouts, in six scoreless innings.
“He gave us obviously a great opportunity to win a baseball game,” White Sox Manager Pedro Grifol said. “Two-nothing lead going into the seventh. ... He looks really good. He’s a piece in this organization moving forward.”
Brent Rooker singled to lead off Oakland’s seventh, and Abraham Toro walked with one out. Alvarez and Gelof followed with RBI singles, tying the game at 2–2.
Darell Hernaiz hit a grounder to shortstop, but Gelof beat Nicky Lopez’s throw to second base, loading the bases. Butler’s sacrifice fly scored Alvarez and gave the Athletics a 3–2 lead.
“I think that probably was the momentum-changer of the game,” A’s Manager Mark Kotsay said of Gelof’s hustle. “Those are the intangibles we talk about. It’s why we love Zack, the way he plays the game. It’s not just about the at-bats and the hits. It’s about the little things. And that little thing, that little detail, pretty much led us to win the game.”
Chicago’s Touki Toussaint (0–2) worked a third of an inning and allowed three runs in the loss.
Oakland’s T.J. McFarland (2–1) pitched a scoreless inning and picked up his first win since April 28.
A’s closer Mason Miller, who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list before the game after having been sidelined with a fractured left pinky finger, got the final three outs for his 16th save in 18 chances.
“Just excited to be back a part of the group and stringing together some W’s,” Miller said. “I think we’ve had great chemistry all year. It’s just a matter of putting together effort on all sides of the ball. We see guys putting together clutch hits like that, making defensive plays. That’s stuff good teams do.”
Trainer’s Room
Oakland first baseman Tyler Nevin was a late scratch due to a migraine. ... Right-hander Luis Medina underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of the season. ... Outfielder/first baseman Seth Brown was placed on the paternity list. ... Alvarez was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas, and right-hander Gerardo Reyes was designated for assignment.Up Next
White Sox: Left-hander Garrett Crochet (6–8, 3.19 earned-run average) is set to seek his first win since June 7 in the opener of a two-game home series against the crosstown rival Cubs on Friday night. Right-hander Jameson Taillon (7–6, 3.25) is scheduled to start for the Cubs.Athletics: Right-hander Mitch Spence (7–7, 4.40) is scheduled to open a three-game series at Toronto on Friday night. The Blue Jays had not named a starter.
