CHICAGO – Mike Scioscia contends that a first-inning call by the umpires changed the course of the Los Angeles Angels' extra-inning loss to the Chicago White Sox.
Alex Rios hit his second homer of the game, connecting for a two-run shot in the 10th inning that lifted the White Sox over the Angels 8-6 on Friday night.
Rios also hit a solo homer as the White Sox won their third in a row. The Angels lost their third straight, with starter Zack Greinke roughed up in his second start since being acquired from Milwaukee.
Scioscia played the game under protest after a baserunning call went against Los Angeles in the first inning.
"We're filing with the league, and I think it's a very clear case in our favor," Scioscia said.
Adam Dunn singled off Hisanori Takahashi (0-3) to open the 10th. Pinch runner Jordan Danks stole second with one out before Rios hit his 18th home run.
"Rios has been great all year. I think he's very underestimated, very undervalued for a lot of people," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "But for us he's been as solid as anybody in the league. Great at bat after great at bat.
"He really hasn't gotten what he's deserved. He's just played great for us. It's a big win. A great at bat. It happened to the right guy."
Matt Thornton (4-6) pitched a scoreless 10th for the win.
Albert Pujols hit his fifth home run in four games for the Angels. Mike Trout also connected for Los Angeles.
Greinke allowed six runs and 10 hits over seven innings. Alejandro De Aza doubled home Alexei Ramirez in the seventh to make it 6-all. De Aza and Ramirez had three hits apiece.
Scioscia argued a call in the first and then played the game under protest.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Paul Konerko hit a grounder to third base. After getting the out at home, catcher Chris Iannetta threw wide to first, pulling Pujols off the bag.
Scioscia contended that Konerko wasn't within the baseline for the last 45 feet. The umpires convened and upheld the safe call, bringing Scioscia back out for another discussion. After a second umpire meeting, Konerko was still ruled safe, prompting Scioscia's decision to play under protest.
"The umpire set the parameter and told us Konerko was running well inside the line," Scioscia said. "All three umpires agreed with that. The dispute was not if he was running inside or outside the box, they all said he was running well inside the line.
"(Crew chief) Dana DeMuth told me that was not the argument. He was inside the line, which makes it virtually impossible for him not to affect the throw from Iannetta, which puts him in the lane of Iannetta trying to make the throw to first base. It's quite obvious."
"It doesn't matter where he is running, exactly," DeMuth told a pool reporter.
A.J. Pierzynski's three-run homer highlighted a four-run first for Chicago. It was his career-high 19th home run, one more than he hit in 2005.
"I guess I just got too fastball happy and I got myself in trouble with Pierzynski. I didn't think he would be able to do that with that pitch. It was kind of where I wanted, maybe not perfect, but I was really surprised he was able to hit it as far as he did," Greinke said.
The play loomed large as Pierzynski homered with two outs.
"It's a totally different inning," Scioscia said. "Everyone goes back. Runners go back to second, you get a double play and you got first and second and two outs, no run in. It's another 15 pitches that Zack has to throw."
Trout hit a two-run homer, his 19th, in the second. Pujols hit his 23rd in the sixth, a solo drive that chased a struggling Phil Humber.
NOTES: The White Sox sent RHP Chris Devenski to Houston as the player to be named to complete the July 21 trade for RHP Brett Myers. ... Chicago signed OF Dewayne Wise to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Charlotte. Wise was released by the Yankees on July 31. He is renowned in White Sox lore for a remarkable ninth-inning catch to preserve Mark Buehrle's perfect game in 2009. ... Ervin Santana (5-10, 5.97 ERA) will start Saturday for the Angels against Gavin Floyd (8-9, 4.28). ... White Sox manager Robin Ventura announced LHP Chris Sale (arm fatigue) will pitch Monday. Sale last pitched July 27 in Texas. ... Angels RHP Dan Haren will pitch on Sunday. Haren was scratched from his start on Wednesday due to back stiffness.
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