Andrew Benintendi hit a walk-off homer as the Chicago White Sox halted their franchise-record home losing streak at 16 games with a 7-6 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.
Gavin Sheets also homered for Chicago (34-115), which won at home for the first time since Aug. 12. The White Sox recorded their second walk-off victory of the season after Oakland (65-84) tied the score with three runs in the top of the ninth.
Gus Varland (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win. Nicky Lopez, Luis Robert Jr., Lenyn Sosa and Benintendi each had three hits.
Benintendi began the bottom of the ninth by depositing a 1-2 slider from Hogan Harris (4-4) into the right field seats for his 17th homer this season.
The game-winner came moments after Oakland rallied in the top of the ninth. With the bases loaded and no outs against Justin Anderson, two runs scored when Shea Langeliers reached on a fielding error by Sosa. Two batters later, Zack Gelof tied the score with an RBI single.
Chicago outhit the A’s, 16-11, and won for just the sixth time in 32 games under interim manager Grady Sizemore, who replaced Pedro Grifol on Aug. 8.
Brent Rooker drove in two runs and extended his on-base streak to 24 games for Oakland.
The White Sox took a 2-0 lead in the second inning against A’s starter J.T. Ginn after putting two runners on with two outs. Both runners scored on Lopez’s single up the middle.
Chicago added a run in the third inning on Sheets’ leadoff homer to right field. The 381-foot shot was Sheets’ ninth homer this season.
White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen’s winless streak extended to 22 straight starts despite him firing five scoreless innings, with eight strikeouts. He allowed six hits with two walks.
Oakland pulled even in the sixth inning against Chad Kuhl. After Lawrence Butler drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs, Rooker followed with a two-run single.
Butler singled twice to extend his career-best hitting streak to 22 games.
Chicago moved ahead in the seventh. With runners on the corners and one out, Scott Alexander replaced Kyle Muller and gave up Benintendi’s run-scoring single. Chicago added another run when Robert scored on Sheets’ sacrifice fly.
The White Sox moved ahead 6-3 with two outs in the eighth inning on Lopez’s RBI single against Grant Holman.
–Field Level Media
