Armando Alvarez and Zack Gelof both hit RBI singles, and Lawrence Butler added a run with a sacrifice fly, all in the seventh inning, leading the Oakland Athletics to a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
The White Sox lost their 10th consecutive series, just a day after ending their American League record-tying 21-game losing streak. Chicago (28-89) has not won back-to-back games since June 27-29 and is now 8-24 in one-run games and 0-67 when trailing after seven innings.
Oakland (48-68) improved its record to 5-1-1 in the last seven series.
Andrew Benintendi hit a two-run homer — his second in two 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 get the decision.
Chicago starter Davis Martin pitched six scoreless innings, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out four.
“He gave us a great chance to win,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “With a 2-0 lead going into the seventh, he looked really good and is a key part of our future.”
Brent Rooker led off the seventh inning for Oakland with a single, and Abraham Toro walked with one out. Alvarez and Gelof then hit RBI singles, tying the game at 2.
Darell Hernaiz hit a grounder to shortstop, but Gelof beat Nicky Lopez’s throw to second base, loading the bases. Butler’s sac fly scored Alvarez and put the Athletics ahead 3-2.
“I think that was the turning point of the game,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said about Gelof’s hustle. “It’s not just about hits and at-bats. It’s the little things that make a difference, and that detail led us to win.”
Touki Toussaint (0-2) allowed three runs in one-third of an inning and took the loss.
