Jose Abreu hits 2 home runs; White Sox gain ‘W’
Jun 27, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago White Sox players celebrate after beating Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 at Rogers Centre. From left are Moises Sierra (25), Alexei Ramirez (10), Jose Abreu (79), and Conor Gillaspie (12). Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Two home runs by Jose Abreu, along with the pitching staff holding on just enough in the ninth inning, gave the Chicago White Sox a rare road win Friday night.
The two home runs by Abreu, along with home runs by Dayan Viciedo and Alexei Ramirez, sent the White Sox to a 5-4 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays had the tying run standing at third base with two outs, but Jake Petricka did enough to keep the lead and help the White Sox gain their 37th win of the season.
Jun 27, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu is greeted at home plate by designated hitter Adam Dunn after hitting a home run to lead off the fifth inning against Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
It wasn’t pretty in the ninth with Ronald Belisario giving up a lead-off home run, followed by Eric Surkamp not recording an out and Petricka gaining the final two outs with runners on the bases.
That was the second save by Petricka this season, and I believe this was the end of the Belisario experiment as closer, and if it isn’t, then something is really wrong.
The bullpen made it too close but did make for nail-biting TV, and at least this time, the White Sox came out on the winning side.
Now for the offense, where the White Sox totaled eight hits, four being home runs.
Abreu’s home runs, both solo, came in the fifth and seventh innings off R.A. Dickey, with those being his 24th and 25th homers of the season. The rookie first baseman now has 63 RBIs on the season.
Abreu finished 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. He also walked once.
Viciedo hit a solo home run in the fifth as well, and Ramirez hit a his two-run home run in the seventh, with both players’ home runs also off the pitching of Dickey. Ramirez’s home run put the White Sox headed by three runs.
Also for Ramirez, it was his first RBI since May 26 and his first home run since May 23. Ramirez now has 38 RBIs in ’14, while Viciedo has 24.
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It was very good to see the White Sox gain a win, even if it was a bit of an “old school” performance by the “Good Guys” using their power to surge ahead for the win.
The victory puts the White Sox are 37-44 on the year.
John Danks was the winning pitcher, going six innings. Danks (7-6) allowed two earned runs (two home runs) on five hits and no walks. His ERA now stands at 4.26.
Dickey suffered the loss, allowing five earned runs on five hits and one walk. He struck out nine and allowed four total home runs.
On Saturday, the White Sox have a day game at 1:07 p.m. ET with ace Chris Sale taking the mound. Sale (6-1, 2.27 ERA) will oppose Marcus Stroman (4-2, 4.25 ERA). Each team currently has one win in this four-game series.