Andrew Benintendi hit a home run to start the ninth inning, and the Chicago White Sox ended a 16-game home losing streak with a 7-6 win over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night.
Benintendi, Luis Robert Jr., Nicky Lopez, and Lenyn Sosa each had three hits for the White Sox, who had lost four games in a row before this. Lopez also drove in three runs.
“That’s a spot I think that I’ve wanted to always be in,” Benintendi said. “I think anybody in here would, regardless of the year I’m having or anybody in here is having, that’s what you play the game for. It’s exciting.”
The 16-game home losing streak was a record for the franchise. With a record of 34-115, the White Sox are trying to avoid breaking the major league record for losses in a season, which is 120 set by the 1962 New York Mets in their first season.
Chicago led 6-3 going into the ninth inning, but Oakland fought back against Justin Anderson.
Two runs scored due to an error by Sosa at third base. Zack Gelof hit a tying RBI single off Gus Varland, but Shea Langeliers was thrown out at home plate by left fielder Zach DeLoach.
Varland (1-0) then got out of the inning by getting Tyler Soderstrom to ground out to third base and Max Schuemann to pop out.
Benintendi secured the win with his 17th home run, a drive to right field on a 1-2 slider from Hogan Harris (4-4).
“It’s not over until it’s over,” Benintendi said. “They put good at-bats together. I feel like they’ve got a lot of scrappy hitters that know how to take pitches and know how to get on base, and they did that in the ninth inning. Once (we) got out of that inning… it only takes one swing.”
Gelof and Brent Rooker each had three hits for Oakland, which had won three of its last four games. J.T. Ginn allowed 10 hits and three runs in four innings.
Chicago got off to a quick start with a 3-0 lead. Lopez hit a two-run single in the second inning, and Gavin Sheets hit his ninth home run in the third inning.
