|
 Abreu drilled a walk-off grand slam off Rays closer Grant
Balfour, who issued all three walks, to win the opener of a
four-game series 9-6 in dramatic fashion at U.S. Cellular Field.
"All I was doing was looking to make good contact, solid contact,"
Abreu said. "The ball just went out that way and that's how it
went."
It was Abreu's second home run of the game and made him the lone
rookie in major league history to hit nine homers in the month of
April. Abreu went 3-for-5 and his six RBIs in the game put him at 27
for the season, tying him with Los Angeles Angels first baseman
Albert Pujols for most by a rookie in April.
"I really didn't have any expectations," said Abreu, who signed as a
free agent with Chicago in the offseason after defecting from Cuba.
"As a matter of fact, I was talking to Pujols during spring training
and he told me 'Hey, don't worry about hitting the home runs early
in the season since it's your first season and all that. Don't worry
about that. Things will come up.' So I wasn't trying to hit them.
They have just happened to be here."
They have also happened to help the White Sox overcome some painful
struggles at the back end of the bullpen, not to mention bouts of
wildness that have led to several high walk totals in games.
This time, White Sox closer Matt Lindstrom was taken off the hook by
Abreu's heroics, after he walked Rays left fielder Matt Joyce in the
top of the ninth with the score tied 4-4 and then served up a
two-run homer to third baseman Evan Longoria.
Tampa Bay appeared headed toward a sure victory entering the bottom
half of the ninth, with Balfour trotting to the mound having
converted all four of his save opportunities to that point.
Instead, Balfour allowed a one-out double to Alejandro De Aza to
jump start the White Sox rally before walking catcher Tyler Flowers
and pinch-hitter Paul Konerko — who exchanged words with Balfour
after he reached first base.
"I probably pitched away from contact a bit — not getting my
breaking balls over and getting in bad counts and walking guys,"
Balfour said. "I got to be more aggressive. You can't put three guys
on."
Eaton made it 6-5 with a groundout to shortstop that was nearly a
game-ending double play before third baseman Marcus Semien walked to
load the bases for Abreu, whose home run went over the wall in right
field to end the game.
"Way too many sliders, not enough of his challenging type of an
attitude, not enough fastballs," Rays manager Joe Maddon said of
Balfour's outing. "I'd just like to see him be more aggressive with
the fastball."
The White Sox are getting used to seeing Abreu send baseballs out of
the park at an aggressive pace.
"It's impressive," said Eaton, who just beat out the relay throw to
first to keep the inning alive. "The proof's in the pudding, I
think. It's amazing. You feel like the whole place could kind of
feel it. When he got up it was like, 'Uh-oh, something great's going
to happen,' and indeed it did."
All the walks allowed by White Sox pitchers led to record-setting
days for the Rays (10-13) and Joyce, who didn't record an official
at-bat in five plate appearances. Tampa Bay tied a team record for
walks in a nine-inning game, while Joyce drew five straight walks to
break the team record of four bases-on-balls in one game that had
been done 10 previous times. Joyce also picked up an RBI in his
second trip to the plate by walking with the bases loaded.
[to top of second column] |
Tampa Bay starter Chris Archer did not get a decision and allowed
four runs, all earned, but did something the Rays' bullpen needed.
He pitched six-plus innings before coming out after a lead-off
double by Flowers to start the seventh. Coming into the game, Rays
starters had not pitched past the fifth in eight of the previous 10
games, which put a strain on the bullpen.
White Sox rookie starter Erik Johnson, meanwhile, forced his bullpen
into a long night. It was the worst start of Johnson's brief career,
lasting only 1 2/3 innings thanks to a four-run second inning by the
Rays.
Johnson, who threw 60 pitches, couldn't get the third out in the
second after retiring two straight following a lead-off single by
Longoria. Seeking the elusive third out, he allowed run-scoring
singles to Rays shortstop Yunel Escobar and catcher Ryan Hanigan
before giving up a run-scoring double to second baseman Ben Zobrist.
Johnson also walked three hitters, all with two outs, including the
bases-loaded walk to Joyce.
Jake Petricka came out of the bullpen and got the White Sox out of
the jam with one pitch, which kept Tampa Bay within striking
distance at 4-1.
It turned out to be a good call by Chicago manager Robin Ventura to
pull Johnson so early. The White Sox made it 4-2 in the third on
Abreu's eighth home run, a 409-foot solo shot to center field, and
pulled even, 4-4, with two more runs in the fourth on four straight
singles.
"I mean where we started, you get Petricka coming in there and
(reliever Zach Putnam) getting us to a point where we can come
back," Ventura said. "They just feel like they can always come back.
It's something that's hard to get and I think when you get wins like
this, where you just keep fighting, guys are having great at-bats,
you know all the way through guys were having great at-bats there at
the end. Just give yourself a shot first."
NOTES: The White Sox, who don't have injured LHP Chris Sale, are not
ready to name a starting pitcher for the third game of this series
on Sunday. ... OF Adam Eaton returned to the starting lineup after a
five-game absence with a knee/hamstring issue. ... Chicago INF Conor
Gillaspie (thumb soreness) missed a fourth straight game and could
be facing a stint on the 15-man disabled list if he's unable to play
Saturday. ... The White Sox claimed RHP Hector Noesi off waivers
from the Texas Rangers on Friday. He'll arrive Saturday to join a
beleaguered bullpen. ... Rays OF David DeJesus started at DH to rest
a sore shoulder that he hurt Thursday in a series finale against the
Minnesota Twins. Starting in the right field, taking DeJesus' spot,
was OF/DH Matt Joyce.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
