Abreu's two-run double lifts White Sox to 3-1 win in 10
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[June 21, 2016]
BOSTON -- Reliever Zach Duke
pitched out of a bases-loaded, nobody-out situation in the ninth
inning and Jose Abreu delivered a two-run double in the 10th to give
the struggling Chicago White Sox a 3-1 victory over the Boston Red
Sox on Monday night.
Abreu hammered a 2-2 pitch from Craig Kimbrel (0-3) to
right-center field with two outs in the 10th to give the White Sox
only their 11th win in 37 games after a 23-10 start. A walk to
Avisail Garcia and a single by J.B. Shuck set up the winning hit.
Kimbrel had 17 straight scoreless outings at Fenway Park since the
season opener and turned in 17 scoreless outings in his last 18
tries.
Duke (2-0) used two strikeouts around a force at the plate to escape
the ninth and deny Red Sox starter Steven Wright his ninth victory
of the season.
Chicago reliever Zach Putnam walked the bases loaded in the ninth.
With the White Sox playing five infielders, Dustin Pedroia, pinch
hitting after a night of rest, struck out against Duke.
Christian Vazquez, guilty of a passed ball that allowed Wright to
score before tying it with a single in the seventh, then hit a slow
grounder to Tyler Saladino, the extra infielder stationed near
second base. Saladino fielded and threw home -- with Alex Avila
fielding the ball on a hop for the force. Pinch-hitter Ryan LaMarre,
making his Red Sox debut, then struck out to kill the threat.
David Robertson worked the bottom of the 10th to pick up his 17th
save of the season.
Wright allowed only an unearned run through nine innings, lowering
his American League-leading ERA to 2.01. The knuckleballer has given
up seven earned runs in the six games, none in three of his last
four starts.
Chicago's Miguel Gonzalez, 6-1 lifetime against the Red Sox and 4-0
at Fenway Park, blanked the home team into the seventh when, with
two outs and nobody on, Chris Young singled and Travis Shaw worked a
3-2 walk. Vazquez then tied the score with a single.
Wright retired 11 straight batters at one point and didn't allow a
hit in innings four through eight.
With one out in the Chicago ninth, Melky Cabrera legged out an
infield hit and took second on Vazquez's second passed ball of the
game. Todd Frazier walked, but Wright struck out Brett Lawrie (on a
68 mph knuckler) and got Avila to bounce out.
Wright pitched around two errors -- one of them his own on an
attempted pickoff at second base -- in the first inning before
allowing a run in the second.
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White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79) is congratulated by third
baseman Todd Frazier (21) after the Chicago White Sox 3-1 win over
the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow
Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Wright gave up only an unearned run through nine innings, lowering
his American League-leading ERA to 2.01. The knuckleballer has
allowed seven earned runs in his last six starts (five wins), none
in three of his last four starts.
Lawrie led off the inning with a double and took third on a flyout.
Vazquez failed to hold a knuckleball and the run scored.
Gonzalez retired the first seven hitters before permitting
back-to-back singles in the third. A diving play to his left by
Frazier at third resulted in a force at second and Gonzalez then got
Xander Bogaerts to pop out.
NOTES: Boston LF Rusney Castillo cleared waivers and was outrighted
to Triple-A Pawtucket, where the Red Sox hope he can find his
missing offensive game. ... Boston LF Brock Holt (concussion) began
a rehab in Triple-A on Monday and is expected to be there throughout
the week. ... RHP James Shields, who starts for the White Sox in
Boston on Thursday, is 0-2 with a 21.81 ERA in his two starts with
his new team. General manager Rick Hahn says things need to be
worked out soon, but said, "We believe (the problems are) more
mechanics ... than the unprecedented evaporation of talent in a
premier starter." ... Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz, sent to the bullpen
with a 6.35 ERA in May, returns to the rotation after five relief
outings when he faces Chicago ace Chris Sale in the second game of
the series on Tuesday night. ... The Red Sox promoted Cuban import
Yoan Moncada from Class A to Double-A on Monday. He was hitting .307
with 36 stolen bases at Class A Advanced Salem.
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