Soto
doubles in 11th to lift White Sox past Astros
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[May 30, 2015]
HOUSTON -- On the heels of a
doubleheader in Baltimore the previous day and dealing with a roster
hamstrung by nagging injuries, the Chicago White Sox appeared ill
equipped to deal with extra innings on the road. But extra innings, and
a resilient performance, is exactly what Chicago got.
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Reserve catcher Geovany Soto cranked a two-run, tiebreaking double
to right field with two outs in the 11th inning and Chicago rallied
to claim the opener of its three-game series with the Houston Astros
6-3 on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.
Soto, who entered in the eighth inning as a defensive replacement
when first baseman Jose Abreu departed with irritation in his right
index finger and Tyler Flowers shifted from behind the plate to
replace Abreu, drove home second baseman Carlos Sanchez and center
fielder Adam Eaton with his hit off Astros left-hander Tony Sipp.
Soto entered the game batting just .190 while Sanchez, who drew a
one-out walk off Astros right-hander Josh Fields (2-1) to initiate
the rally, opened Friday at .163 and was hitless in his three prior
at-bats.
Four White Sox (22-25) relievers combined to work 4 2/3 scoreless
innings, with left-hander Dan Jennings (1-1) earning the win and
right-hander David Robertson notching his 10th save. Right-handers
Daniel Webb and Zach Putnam also delivered timely, effective
outings.
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"Yeah, they were great," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of his
relievers. "All those guys. Put, Webby coming in. Put going two
innings that we knew we were going to need. Jennings was going to go
back out if it stayed tied but once we got the lead and Robby
(Robertson) started warming up he said he felt good. We kind of went
for it."
Said Robertson: "We talked a little bit before the game and I
assumed if the opportunity came up I was going to get it."
The Astros (30-19) surrendered four runs in relief.
Trailing 2-1, the Astros clawed their way to the lead with two runs
in the sixth inning, with two White Sox errors playing a role.
Houston second baseman Jose Altuve and left fielder Preston Tucker
reached in succession to open the frame against Chicago left-hander
Carlos Rodon, with Altuve scoring on a sacrifice fly by first
baseman Chris Carter.
Tucker advanced to third base on an errant throw from left fielder
Melky Cabrera, who attempted to nab Altuve at home for a second
time, and later scored when third baseman Luis Valbuena hustled down
the line on a ball hit to Abreu. Rodon was pulled off the bag on the
toss from Abreu, enabling Valbuena to reach with two outs and Tucker
to score the go-ahead run, pushing the Astros in front 3-2.
That lead was erased on the first pitch of the eighth inning when
White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham greeted Astros right-hander
Chad Qualls with his third home run of the season, a 385-foot blast
to left.
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"It kind of just humbles you a little bit realizing this game is not
as easy as we make it look at times," Qualls said. "Just one bad
pitch pretty much that whole inning. The first pitch he just kind of
ambushed me right out of the gate and hit a homer."
Carter slapped a single under the glove of third baseman Connor
Gillaspie in the fourth to score designated hitter Evan Gattis, who
also singled for a second time before advancing to second on a
passed ball. Carter pulled Houston even at 1, but Chicago reclaimed
its lead quickly.
Having scored an unearned run against Astros right-hander Lance
McCullers in the third, the White Sox chased McCullers by loading
the bases with one out in the fifth. Beckham greeted left-hander Joe
Thatcher with a sacrifice fly that scored Abreu, but that rally
stalled.
"I think that game could have been won on both sides a couple of
different times," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "I think missed
opportunities on both sides kind of created a longer game. It's
obviously frustrating to lose."
NOTES: The Astros placed RHP Scott Feldman on the 15-day disabled
list after he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee
Friday morning to repair a torn medial meniscus. Feldman sustained
the injury Tuesday in Baltimore while fielding a ground ball. He is
expected to miss approximately six weeks. ... Houston recalled RHP
Michael Feliz from Double-A Corpus Christi to replace Feldman on the
roster. ... White Sox RF Avisail Garcia participated in batting
practice and fielding drills Friday and could return to the lineup
Saturday. Garcia has been battling right knee inflammation for
almost two weeks and has missed four games since being removed
Monday against the Blue Jays. ... Astros LHP Brett Oberholtzer will
be activated from the 15-day disabled list in time to start Monday
night against Baltimore. Oberholtzer has made just one start this
season while battling a reoccurring blister on his left index
finger.
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