American League Game Summary - Seattle at Chicago
(Friday, August 24th)
Final Score: Chicago 9, Seattle 8
Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Paul Konerko clubbed a game-winning RBI double
in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Chicago White Sox to a 9-8
victory over the Seattle Mariners in the opener of a three-game series Friday
at U.S. Cellular Field.
Seattle trailed 7-2 heading into the final frame, but scored six runs in the
top of the ninth to grab a one-run lead.
Seattle closer Tom Wilhelmsen (4-3) was unable to maintain the advantage,
however, as Gordon Beckham singled to start the ninth before Dewayne Wise
worked a walk.
Kevin Youkilis then tied the game with an RBI single to center, and after Adam
Dunn flied out, Konerko launched a fly ball into right-center field.
Michael Saunders and Eric Thames collided at the warning track in right-center
and neither was able to corral the ball, allowing Wise to cross the plate for
the game-winning run.
Addison Reed (3-1) was awarded the victory, despite giving up three runs --
two earned -- in the top of the ninth.
Dunn crushed a pair of home runs and knocked in three while Alexei Ramirez
smacked a two-run shot and finished with three RBI as the White Sox won their
fifth straight game.
"We got a lot of great hitters. The thing about our lineup, we hit the long
ball, so you always have that variable," Youkilis said. "As long as we get
those guys up, the 3-4-5, I thought we had a chance."
Trayvon Robinson finished with three hits, including his first home run of the
season, and Jesus Montero added a solo shot to start the ninth, but the M's
saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end.
With the Mariners trailing by five in the ninth, Montero's blast seemed to
give the visitors a spark.
Justin Smoak worked a one-out walk and Robinson doubled before Reed entered
from the bullpen and walked Brendan Ryan to load the bases.
Dustin Ackley then plated a pair with a single through the right side of the
infield before a walk to Michael Saunders packed the bags again
Kyle Seager lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Ryan and trim the
margin to one and John Jaso followed with a base hit into right field.
Ackley scored easily to tie the game, while Saunders pulled into third, but
Alex Rios' throw skipped past third baseman Youkilis, allowing Saunders to
score for a one-run advantage, but the White Sox answered in the bottom half.
"A great comeback by our guys, that's what I'm thinking about right now,"
Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. "It says a lot about our guys and how far
they've come."
Earlier in the game, Seattle scored in the first when Ackley doubled and then
crossed home on Saunders' single into left-center field.
Chicago responded in the bottom half when Dunn lifted a curveball into the
bleachers in right-center field, but Robinson restored Seattle's one-run lead
with his solo homer in the second.
Rios singled to start the bottom half, stole second and advanced to third when
Montero's throw skipped into center field. Ramirez then provided a two-out
base hit to center to plate Rios and tie the game at 2-2.
Dunn pushed the home team in front in the third as Youkilis worked a one-out
walk before Dunn launched his second homer of the day deep into right-center
field, giving Chicago a 4-2 lead.
Ramirez then belted a two-run homer of his own in the fourth before A.J.
Pierzynski's sacrifice fly to center field extended the lead to 7-2 in the
fifth.
Game Notes
Chicago has taken six of seven from the Mariners this season ... The White Sox
have homered in 19 of their last 20 games at home ... Chicago starter Jake
Peavy allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out five over seven frames ...
Seattle starter Jason Vargas was shelled for six runs on seven hits over four
innings.
08/25 00:50:34 ET

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