Viciedo's pinch hit gives White Sox win

[October 23, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Paul Konerko tied the game in the eighth inning with a run-scoring double and Dayan Viciedo won it with a pinch-hit RBI single in the ninth as the Chicago White Sox rallied to beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 on Tuesday night.

Boston's slim playoff hopes were dashed were about an hour before the game ended. The Rays beat Baltimore 5-0 and New York defeated Toronto 6-1 to secure playoff berths and eliminate the Red Sox.

Chris Sale (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the win for the White Sox, who snapped a seven-game home losing streak.

Juan Pierre singled with one out in the ninth off Michael Bowden (0-1). Pierre stole second and third off reliever Michael Bowden, who then walked pinch-hitter Mark Teahen. Viciedo ended the game with a single off Matt Fox.

Trailing 4-3 in the eighth, Chicago's Manny Ramirez led off the inning with a walk. Brent Lillibridge came in as a pinch-runner and stole second. Konerko doubled to right off Daniel Bard to tie the game at 4. Bard ended the inning by striking out Andruw Jones with runners on first and third.

David Ortiz homered for the Red Sox and John Lackey pitched six strong innings.

J.D. Drew homered and Adrian Beltre had two hits for Boston, which lost for the second time in six games.

Lackey allowed two runs, three hits and a walk while striking out five.

Carlos Quentin homered for the White Sox.

White Sox starter Edwin Jackson gave up four runs, three earned, struck out six and walked one.

Jackson allowed consecutive doubles in the second. Beltre led off the inning with a double down the left-field line and scored on Jed Lowrie's double.

Drew homered on a 2-2 pitch with one out in the third, his 21st of the season. Beltre drove in another run with a sacrifice fly.

Ramirez led off the fourth with a single. Two outs later, Quentin hit his 26th homer to cut the Red Sox lead to 3-2.

Ortiz hit his 32nd homer in the sixth.

Red Sox reliever Scott Atchison gave up consecutive singles to Quentin and Alexei Ramirez in the seventh. Rich Hill relieved Atchison and retired the first batter he faced then gave up an RBI single to Brent Morel.

NOTES: C A.J. Pierzynski is unsure of his future with the White Sox. Pierzynski becomes a free agent after the season and has played the last six seasons with the White Sox. "Everyone knows where I stand with the White Sox and the people and the city," he said. "I've never said that I don't want to come back. The door is open. But we'll see what happens. It takes two to do that, make it possible. We'll see where it goes." ... Red Sox C Jarrod Saltalamacchia underwent successful surgery to repair a ligament tear in his left thumb. Boston expects Saltalamacchia to be ready for spring training. ... White Sox OF Alex Rios is day-to-day after fouling a ball off his left knee.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.