White Sox can't complete comeback against Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Alberto Callaspo hit a three-run homer in Los Angeles' five-run seventh inning, and the Angels beat the White Sox 12-9 on Saturday to end Chicago's four-game winning streak.
Callaspo also had a pair of sacrifice flies to give him five RBIs on the day. Mark Trumbo added his 10th homer for Los Angeles, which finished with 17 hits.
Robert Coello (1-0) recorded his first major league victory, retiring all five batters he faced and striking out three after relieving Joe Blanton after another ineffective performance.
Hector Gimenez had four hits and three RBIs for the White Sox, who allowed only 10 runs during their winning streak. Paul Konerko and Alexei Ramirez had three hits apiece, and Adam Dunn drove in two runs before leaving in the fifth because of back spasms
Chicago was only down by one before Los Angeles broke it open in the seventh against Donnie Veal, who was just recalled from Triple-A Charlotte. Callaspo greeted the left-hander with a drive to left for his third homer , and No. 9 hitter J.B. Shuck made it 10-4 with a two-run double.
Nate Jones (0-4), who came in after Hector Santiago was knocked out in the fourth, allowed four runs and three hits in 3 1-3 innings. Veal was charged with the same totals while recording just one out.
The White Sox got back in the game with five runs in the eighth, including a three-run shot by Gimenez off closer Ernesto Frieri. Konerko and Dayan Viciedo each had an RBI single Garrett Richards.
But Los Angeles gave Frieri a couple of insurance runs in the bottom half on Howie Kendrick's RBI single and Callaspo's second sacrifice fly, and the right-hander struck out the side in the ninth to get his eighth save in nine attempts.
Blanton gave up four runs and 11 hits in 4 1-3 innings and is 0-7 with a 6.62 ERA in his first nine starts with the Angels, who signed him to a two-year, $15 million contract in December.
Coello came on with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth and struck out Ramirez and Rios. The Angels grabbed a 5-4 lead in the bottom half on Trumbo's RBI double and Callaspo's sacrifice fly. Albert Pujols started the rally with an opposite-field double down the first base line against the shift.
Santiago was charged with three runs and four hits in 3 1-3 innings. He issued a season-high four walks and struck out two.
Chicago scored four times in the fourth inning, but the Angels responded with three in the bottom half. Trumbo got the Angels on the board with a leadoff shot over both bullpens in left field. They loaded the bases for the second straight inning with a single by Callaspo and two walks, and Santiago forced in a run with a walk to Shuck on his 80th pitch.
That brought in Jones, fresh off his loss to Los Angeles reliever Ryan Brasier on Friday night in the Angels' annual cow-milking contest. Erick Aybar trimmed the margin to 4-3 with a sacrifice fly on the right-hander's first delivery.