Chicago, IL – Brandon Inge drove in the winning run in the eighth inning as the Oakland Athletics took down the Chicago White Sox, 9-7, in the second of three from U.S. Cellular Field.
Coco Crisp went 3-for-6 with three runs scored while Jonny Gomes hit a solo home run and drove in two for the Athletics, who have won three of their last four.
"We're always a hit or a break, whether it's the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth inning, away. Fortunately enough, we've gotten those breaks and those big hits at home," said Gomes. "It's nice to get that on the road."
Oakland starter Travis Blackley was charged with five runs on six hits over just five innings of work. Ryan Cook (5-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings without giving up a run to get the win.
Tyler Flowers was 3-for-3 with a solo home run and three RBI while Kevin Youkilis added a two-run homer for the White Sox, who have dropped three of their last four.
Francisco Liriano gave up six runs on seven hits in his 3 1/3 innings of action. Matt Thornton (4-8) was charged with two runs in the eighth to take the loss.
"It's frustrating. I felt like I threw the ball well again and made one mistake to Jonny Gomes," admitted Thornton. "I thought it was a good idea to throw him a breaking ball and he jumped all over it."
Chicago took the lead of the game with an RBI single from A.J. Pierzynski in the seventh to make it a 7-6 contest, but the A's answered in the eighth.
With one out, Gomes tied the game with his 13th homer of the year. After Josh Reddick flied out, Yoenis Cespedes and Chris Carter followed with singles. Brett Myers then took the mound and Inge greeted him with a base hit to give Oakland an 8-7 lead.
Chicago left a man on base in the eighth and Gomes' run-scoring single in the ninth gave the A's some insurance.
Grant Balfour hit Youkilis with a pitch to start the inning, but retired the next three batters for his eighth save of the season.
Chicago went on top with a pair of runs in the second inning. Pierzynski led off with a single and Alexei Ramirez followed with a double. Dayan Viciedo knocked in one with a groundout and Flowers drove home another with a double for a 2-0 lead.
Oakland, though, responded with a big five-run third. Crisp singled with one out and Gomes followed with a walk. A fielder's choice from Reddick saw Gomes forced out at second, but Cespedes was then hit by a pitch. Carter's single plated two and, following a walk to Inge, Derek Norris' ground-rule double scored two more. An RBI single from Adam Rosales made it a 5-2 game.
The A's made it a 6-2 contest in the fourth when Crisp led off with a double and later scored on Reddick's single.
The White Sox chipped away at the deficit in the fourth when Viciedo's two-out double was followed by a single from Flowers for a 6-3 game.
In the fifth, Chicago made it a one-run game as Alejandro De Aza was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Youkilis followed with a homer off the top of the wall in center to make it a 6-5 contest.
Flowers tied the game in the sixth with his two-out, solo shot to left-center, his third of the season.
Game Notes
Oakland has won three of the five games against the White Sox this season...Oakland stranded 12 in the game, but did bat 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position...Chicago left seven and went 3-for-8 with RISP...Chicago recalled outfielder Dewayne Wise from Triple-A Charlotte prior to the game to take the spot of Paul Konerko, who was placed on the seven-day disabled list on Friday with a concussion.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.