Chicago, IL – Paul Konerko clubbed a game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Chicago White Sox to a 9-8 victory over the Seattle Mariners in the opener of a three-game series Friday at U.S. Cellular Field.
Seattle trailed 7-2 heading in the final frame, but scored six runs in the top of the ninth to grab a one-run lead.
Seattle closer Tom Wilhelmsen (4-3) was unable to maintain the advantage, however, as Gordon Beckham singled to start the ninth before Dewayne Wise worked a walk.
Kevin Youkilis then tied the game with an RBI single to center, and after Adam Dunn flied out, Konerko launched a fly ball into right-center field.
Michael Saunders and Eric Thames collided at the warning track in right-center and neither was able to corral the ball, allowing Wise to cross the plate for the game-winning run.
Addison Reed (3-1) was awarded the victory, despite giving up three runs -- two earned -- in the top of the ninth.
Dunn crushed a pair of home runs and knocked in three while Alexei Ramirez smacked a two-run shot and finished with three RBI as the White Sox won their fifth straight game.
"We got a lot of great hitters. The thing about our lineup, we hit the long ball, so you always have that variable," Youkilis said. "As long as we get those guys up, the 3-4-5, I thought we had a chance."
Trayvon Robinson finished with three hits, including his first home run of the season, and Jesus Montero added a solo shot to start the ninth, but the M's saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end.
With the Mariners trailing by five in the ninth, Montero's blast seemed to give the visitors a spark.
Justin Smoak worked a one-out walk and Robinson doubled before Reed entered from the bullpen and walked Brendan Ryan to load the bases.
Dustin Ackley then plated a pair with a single through the right side of the infield before a walk to Michael Saunders packed the bags again
Kyle Seager lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Ryan and trim the margin to one and John Jaso followed with a base hit into right field.
Ackley scored easily to tie the game, while Saunders pulled into third, but Alex Rios' throw skipped past third baseman Youkilis, allowing Saunders to score for a one-run advantage, but the White Sox answered in the bottom half.
"A great comeback by our guys, that's what I'm thinking about right now," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. "It says a lot about our guys and how far they've come."
Earlier in the game, Seattle scored in the first when Ackley doubled and then crossed home on Saunders' single into left-center field.
Chicago responded in the bottom half when Dunn lifted a curveball into the bleachers in right-center field, but Robinson restored Seattle's one-run lead with his solo homer in the second.
Rios singled to start the bottom half, stole second and advanced to third when Montero's throw skipped into center field. Ramirez then provided a two-out base hit to center to plate Rios and tie the game at 2-2.
Dunn pushed the home team in front in the third as Youkilis worked a one-out walk before Dunn launched his second homer of the day deep into right-center field, giving Chicago a 4-2 lead.
Ramirez then belted a two-run homer of his own in the fourth before A.J. Pierzynski's sacrifice fly to center field extended the lead to 7-2 in the fifth.
Game Notes
Chicago has taken six of seven from the Mariners this season ... The White Sox have homered in 19 of their last 20 games at home ... Chicago starter Jake Peavy allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out five over seven frames ... Seattle starter Jason Vargas was shelled for six runs on seven hits over four innings.
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