CHICAGO — Juan Pierre’s game-ending single in the 14th inning capped a wild, five-hour marathon as the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 8-7 on Tuesday night.
Indians manager Manny Acta pleads his case to umpire John Hirschbeck during the fourth inning of Tuesday’s game against the White Sox in Chicago. The Indians had multiple calls they disagreed with throughout the game. (AP photo.)
Gordon Beckham doubled off Chad Durbin (2-2) with one out in the final inning, advancing to third on Brent Morel’s infield single.
David Huff relieved Durbin to face Pierre, who singled to left to win it.
Jason Frasor (3-2) worked the top of the inning to earn the victory.
The White Sox have won nine of 11 and remain 3½ games behind the American League Central-leading Detroit Tigers. The loss drops the second-place Indians to three games back.
Cleveland rallied to tie the game in the ninth on a pair of defensive miscues by the White Sox. After Sergio Santos issued a one-out walk, Michael Brantley popped a single in front of center fielder Alex Rios, who had just come in as a defensive replacement.
Alejandro De Aza moved over to right field to take over for Carlos Quentin, who replaced Rios.
With runners on first and third, Shin-soo Choo tapped a slow roller to second base. Beckham thought about throwing home but hesitated and dropped the ball. He was only able to get a force out at second, allowing the tying run to score.
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De Aza tripled in runs in the second and sixth. He became the first White Sox player to triple twice in a game since Alex Cintron on April 13, 2006.
Paul Konerko extended his hit streak to 12 games with four hits. After doubling in the fifth, Konerko tagged up at second and slid into third on Carlos Quentin’s fly out to center, later scoring on Alexei Ramirez’s triple.
The White Sox captain has been hobbled by his left knee since being hit by a pitch on July 31 against Boston. He has been unable to play in the field but has hit in every game since returning to action on Aug. 4.
Tyler Flowers and Rios also tripled for the White Sox, who tallied five triples in one game for the first time since Sept. 17, 1920, against the New York Yankees. The club record is six triples, a feat achieved three times. The White Sox had just eight triples on the year coming into the game.
Rios tripled to lead off the 11th, but the White Sox left him stranded.
Pierre hit a solo home run off Cleveland starter Ubaldo Jimenez in the fourth. It was his second homer of the season and 16th in his 12-year career.
Gavin Floyd struck out nine over 5 2/3 innings. He allowed five runs on five hits in the no-decision. He retired the first nine batters he faced, including seven strikeouts. He struck out the side in the second.
Jiminez allowed five runs, four earned, on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings, throwing 105 pitches. He struck out five and walked one.
Talkin’ Thome
Tribe manager Acta is not personally acquainted with Jim Thome, who spent more time with the Indians (12 years) than his other employers (Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins). But Acta knows a class act when he sees one.
Thome became the eighth player in history to hit 600 career home runs Monday night, when he went deep twice for the Twins in a win over the Detroit Tigers. He is one of only five players in the 600 club not tainted by the steroid scandals.
“Let’s put it this way,” Acta said. “How many people have been in the big leagues in more than 100 years? Only eight have done this. That’s greatness.
“And from everything I hear, Thome is a better person that he is a player. And that’s tough to beat.”
Thome also has a career .403 on-base percentage, a consequence of his willingness to take a walk.
“A lot of people miss the fact that he’s eighth all time in walks,” Acta said. “That’s another really good accomplishment.”
No complaints
Acta will have some serious juggling with his rotation when three makeup games clutter the September schedule. However, he has no intention of complaining.
“I’m just grateful that we can play meaningful games in September,” he said. “I’d rather worry about the other stuff than have things the way they were last year.”
September call-ups will provide Acta with enough players from Triple-A Columbus to increase the Tribe’s depth, but it’s open to question whether the players summoned from Triple-A will provide quality.
“It’s not my call,” Acta said. “If they all fit in the dugout, I don’t care.”
Farm facts
Joe Martinez (8-6, 4.01 ERA) pitched six scoreless innings, allowing seven hits and no walks, as Columbus blanked Rochester 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader. In the second game, Jared Head hit his 23rd homer of the year, singled and drove in two runs, but the Clippers lost 4-3.
Notable
- Indians LHP Tony Sipp was ejected in the 10th for arguing a controversial call after being removed from the game.
- Indians OF Grady Sizemore (knee/sports hernia) ran on a treadmill Tuesday and is scheduled to do so again Thursday.
- Indians INF Jason Kipnis (side) was out of the lineup for the second straight game but was available to pinch-hit.
