Chicago, IL – Alex Rios went 3-for-4 and knocked in the go- ahead run in the seventh inning, helping the Chicago White Sox beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 8-6, in the middle installment of a three-game series.
Dayan Viciedo went 3-for-4 with a homer, four RBI and two runs scored for the White Sox, who bounced back from a 1-0 loss in 10 innings on Friday. Gordon Beckham, Alexei Ramirez and Orlando Hudson each drove in a run.
Chicago starter Dylan Axelrod gave up five runs -- four earned -- on six hits over 5 1/3 innings. Jesse Crain (2-1) recorded the final two outs in the seventh to pick up the win.
Ryan Braun, Nyjer Morgan, Martin Maldonado, Cody Ransom and Carlos Gomez had an RBI apiece for the Brewers, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Norichika Aoki went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
Milwaukee starter Randy Wolf allowed five runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings. Jose Veras (3-3) gave up one run on two hits in the seventh to take the loss.
"I didn't feel like I pitched very well today," said Wolf. "I'm not going to point fingers at the bulpen or anything like that. They fight their tails off to get outs. I just need to do a better job."
With the game tied at six, Beckham started the bottom of the seventh with a single off Veras. Paul Konerko was intentionally walked with one out. Rios followed with an RBI single to left-center field to make it 7-6 Chicago.
The Brewers loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth. Addison Reed got Corey Hart to ground into a fielder's choice to end the threat.
Chicago tacked on an insurance run in the bottom half. Ramirez led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third when Alejandro De Aza's flied out and scored on Beckham's base hit to left.
Reed tossed a perfect ninth to pick up his ninth save of the season.
The Brewers got the scoring started in the second inning. Aramis Ramirez led off with an infield single and raced home on George Kottaras' two-out double to left.
The White Sox responded with two runs in the bottom half. Konerko and Rios started things with back-to-back singles. The runners moved up to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. Viciedo and Alexei Ramirez followed with consecutive RBI singles to make it 2-1.
But Milwaukee tied the game in the third. Aoki was hit by a pitch, stole second and raced home on Braun's single up the middle.
After A.J. Pierzynski singled in the fourth, Viciedo cleared the wall in right to give Chicago a 4-2 lead.
The Brewers got one run back in the fifth. Aoki hit a two-out single, stole second and scored on Morgan's single to left.
Milwaukee then used a three-run sixth to go in front. Aramis Ramirez singled and Rickie Weeks was hit by a pitch. Will Ohman came into the game and pinch- hitter Maldonado greeted him with an RBI single. Nate Jones was called in from the bullpen. Ransom's RBI single and Gomez's sacrifice fly gave the visitors a 6-4 edge.
But the White Sox scored two runs in the bottom half to tie the game again. Rios singled and stole second. Kameron Loe took over on the mound and gave up an RBI single to Viciedo. Two batters later, Hudson hit an RBI double to right-center field to make it 6-6.
"Giving up the lead, then tying it back up and going ahead, that's a confidence boost for the offense," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "It's a good feeling."
Game Notes
The Brewers placed pitcher Shaun Marcum on the 15-day disabled list and activated first baseman Travis Ishikawa from the 15-day disabled list...Beckham went 3-for-5...The White Sox had 14 hits, compared to 11 for Milwaukee.
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