White Sox score 3 in ninth, take down Guardians

[August 07, 2023]  Elvis Andrus had a tiebreaking two-run single in the ninth inning as the visiting Chicago White Sox rallied for a 5-3 victory Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians in the deciding game of a three-game series.

Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase (1-6) tried to protect a 3-2 lead in the ninth, but the first two batters, Eloy Jimenez and Andrew Vaughn, singled. After a pair of strikeouts put the Guardians an out from the victory, third baseman Brayan Rocchio made back-to-back throwing errors to first, allowing the tying run to score. 

Aug 6, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) hits an RBI triple during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Andrus then rolled a single up the middle to score two more runs for a 5-3 lead.

Andrus had three hits for Chicago, which had lost five of six.

White Sox starter Jesse Scholtens allowed three runs (two earned) and six hits in six innings. The 29-year-old rookie right-hander struck out six and walked one in just his fourth start in 18 appearances this season.

White Sox reliever Sammy Peralta (1-0) earned his first major-league win and Jimmy Lambert pitched the ninth for his first major-league save.

Cleveland starter Xzavion Curry made just his fourth start this season to go along with 25 relief appearances and the right-hander went five innings for the first time since his season debut on April 3.

Curry allowed two runs and four hits, striking out four without a walk.

Gabriel Arias homered for the Guardians, who have lost five of six.

Andrus doubled off the wall in left to start the game. One out later, Luis Robert Jr. tripled high off the wall in center to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. Eloy Jimenez followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

Kole Calhoun doubled to lead off the fifth. Arias then stepped up and lifted an 0-2 fastball over the fence in left-center field to tie the score 2-2.

Rocchio followed with a double off the right-field wall. Myles Straw then hit a one-hopper back to the mound and the ball went off Scholtens' bare hand and caromed to Andrus at short. His throw was wide of first, allowing Rocchio to score the unearned run for a 3-2 lead.

Chicago shortstop Tim Anderson, who was knocked to the ground by a punch from Cleveland third baseman Jose Ramirez at the start of a bench-clearing brawl on Saturday night, did not play.

--Field Level Media

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