White Sox rally past A's 4-3, avoid sweep

[September 23, 2010]  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Mark Teahen hit a go-ahead double with two outs in the ninth right after pinch-hitter Mark Kotsay's tying RBI single and the Chicago White Sox rallied past the Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Wednesday to end a season-worst eight game skid.

The White Sox got to Oakland's short-handed bullpen, scoring twice against Brad Ziegler (3-5). The right-hander hadn't given up a run in his previous 12 appearances.

Juan Pierre stole his majors-leading 60th base with a steal of home in the eighth to make it 3-2. Pierre moved into 30th place on the all-time steals list with 519 and into second on Chicago's career single-season list.

Matt Thornton (4-4) pitched 1 2-3 innings for the win. Chris Sale recorded the final out for his third save in as many tries, striking out pinch-hitter Steve Tolleson to end it with runners on first and second.

Oakland's Chris Carter hit his first career home run.

White Sox slugger Manny Ramirez was a late, healthy scratch. It wasn't known Ramirez was out until he didn't come up to bat in the fifth spot in the second inning. Dayan Viciedo, who replaced Ramirez in the lineup, hit an RBI single in the seventh.

The White Sox won for only the third time in their past 15 games. Chicago snapped its longest September skid since dropping nine straight games from Sept. 14-23, 1976.

Oakland was an out away from its first sweep of the White Sox since Aug. 14-16, 2007. The White Sox avoided being swept in a third straight series for the first time since Aug. 19-28, 1991, by Detroit, Cleveland and Kansas City.

The White Sox were eliminated from AL Central contention Tuesday night with a 7-2 loss, which clinched the division for the Minnesota Twins.

On a day four of Oakland's top relievers weren't available, Brett Anderson went 6 2-3 innings. He allowed one run on six hits, struck out one and walked one. Ziegler hasn't converted a save in four chances this year.

The A's added an unearned insurance run in the seventh, taking advantage of a wild throw past first by second baseman Brent Lillibridge.

White Sox starter Edwin Jackson's winless stretch reached four starts since a victory at Cleveland on Aug. 31. Chicago's starters are 0-9 over their past 17 games.

Since Carter began 0 for 32 in his initial 11 big league games, he is 4 for 8 in his past three games to raise his average 100 points (.100). He hit a solo homer leading off the third, then Jack Cust added an RBI single in the sixth. Oakland hosts the first-place Texas Rangers for a four-game series to end its final homestand.

The A's Jeff Larish snapped a career-worst 0-for-16 stretch with a two-out double in the seventh. It was just his second hit in 30 at-bats over his past 12 games.

NOTES: Pierre's career-best year for steals was 65 in 2003 for Florida. ... A's manager Bob Geren plans to play 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff every other day because he recently missed nearly two weeks with back spasms. ... The A's renewed their player development agreement with Triple-A Sacramento through the 2014 season. ... White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen would like to see the team bring back players such as 1B Paul Konerko, RHP Freddy Garcia and C A.J. Pierzynski, yet he isn't expecting it to happen. ... Chicago went 2-4 at the Coliseum this year and 4-5 overall against the A's in 2010. ... A's closer Andrew Bailey, the 2009 AL Rookie of the Year, is set to see Dr. James Andrews on Thursday for another opinion on his troublesome elbow. ... Eric Sogard earned his first start at 2B for the A's.

[Associated Press; By JANIE McCAULEY]

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