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 Despite allowing four runs in the final three innings, the
Chicago White Sox hung on to beat the San Francisco Giants 7-6 to
sweep a brief two-game interleague series.
The back-to-back wins for Chicago (35-37) come on the heels of a
four-game losing streak that included being swept by the Kansas City
Royals, who now lead the American League Central.
"Our guys, they're tough," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura,
whose team will start an 11-game road trip Thursday in Minnesota.
"They just keep grinding. The schedule keeps going and it doesn't
stop. If you want to look in the rearview mirror and wallow on that,
you're going to get beat a lot more. These guys seem to stay with it
and grind it out."
The struggling Giants have lost five in a row and eight of their
past 10.
Closer Ronald Belisario allowed a run in 1 2/3 innings to earn his
seventh save, but not before some late-inning dramatics.
Leading 7-5 heading into the ninth, Belisario allowed a lead-off
double to third baseman Pablo Sandoval, followed by designated
hitter Michael Morse's single to put runners on the corners with no
outs. Belisario got out of it with a strikeout, a sacrifice fly and
a fly out to end the game.
 "It happens," Ventura said of his bullpen allowing three runs. "I
mean, they're human. They've been doing a great job of filling in
and getting it done for us. I don't expect this to be a trend or
anything, it's just hopefully a blip."
Powered by home runs from first-baseman Jose Abreu and designated
hitter Adam Dunn, the White Sox built a 7-2 lead after five innings
and barely made it stand up with four relievers used in the final
three innings.
Neither starter had his best stuff.
Sale (6-1) picked up the win, but lasted only six innings. Hudson,
whose earned-run average went from a majors-leading 1.81 ERA to 2.39
ERA, took the loss. He allowed seven runs (all earned) on 12 hits
and didn't record a strikeout in 4 2/3 innings.
"It was a tough day for me out there, no question," Hudson said.
"It's hard to put your finger on one thing. It was just a couple of
bad pitches here and there and they put themselves in position to
score some runs and took advantage of it."
Aside from his sterling ERA before the game, Hudson had also won his
last five starts. His history against the White Sox isn't as
pristine, however, particularly in Chicago. He carried a 4-3 record
and 5.15 ERA in nine career outings against the White Sox into the
game, including a 1-2 mark with a 7.40 ERA in his last three starts
against Chicago.
Hudson was also 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA in five career starts at U.S.
Cellular Field, with no quality starts. He's still searching for his
first after the Sox scored two runs in the first, two more in the
third and three runs in the fifth to build a 7-2 lead before Hudson
was relieved.
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Abreu got it started by drilling a two-run homer in his first
at-bat with two outs in the first inning to make it 2-0. Catcher
Tyler Flowers added a two-run single in the fourth to make it 4-0
and Dunn launched a three-run homer in the fifth -- making it 7-2
after the Giants had just scratched out two runs in the top of the
inning.
Abreu and Dunn each had 0-2 counts against them when they hit their
home runs.
"Obviously, the big blow was that homer from Dunn in the fifth
inning," Hudson said. "I just didn't get that pitch where I wanted
to and elevated a four-seamer. It's frustrating, no doubt about it.
You score six runs on a day I pitch, we should win these games. For
me, that's the frustrating part."
Sale wasn't at his best either. He struck out seven but allowed an
uncharacteristic eight hits and three runs. He labored a bit, but
was good enough to protect a comfortable lead until the bullpen took
over.
Right-handers Jake Petricka and Zach Putnam and left-hander Scott
Downs preceded Belisario and just barely kept the Giants at bay
through the final 2 1/3 innings. Aside from Belisario's escape act
in the ninth, Petricka also wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the
seventh.
NOTES: Former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen watched the game from
seats behind home plate. He said it was his first game back at U.S.
Cellular Field since leaving for the managing job with the Florida
Marlins at the end of the 2011 season ... Chicago backup C Adrian
Nieto might start getting more starts to allow slumping Tyler
Flowers time to work out some kinks in his swing and let his body
heal from bumps and bruises associated with catching. ... Giants
manager Bruce Bochy said closer Sergio Romo's job is secure despite
some struggles in Colorado this past weekend. ... Giants CF Angel
Pagan (lower back stiffness) flew to Arizona Thursday ahead of the
Giants to undergo tests prior to the start of a weekend series
against the Diamondbacks. ... Giants backup catcher Hector Sanchez
did not undergo concussion protocol tests after having a foul tip
hit him in the mask Tuesday during the first game against Chicago.
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