Robertson returns to mound and saves White Sox win
NEW YORK (AP) - The last time David Robertson came out of the Yankee Stadium bullpen, it was exactly a year ago and he was wearing pinstripes.
He blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning that night and went home with a wonderful memory.
Robertson's meltdown against Baltimore on Sept. 25, 2014, set the stage for Derek Jeter's game-ending single in the final home game of his illustrious career with the New York Yankees.
"The baseball gods were against me that day. They wanted to see Derek walk off with a base hit. It was a pretty incredible moment," Robertson said Friday night after saving a 5-2 victory for the Chicago White Sox.
"Looking back on it now, I'm not mad about it at all. It just stung at the time because I was so worried that I had just blown the game and now we're going to have to go extra innings."
On the anniversary of his previous outing in New York, the ex-Yankees closer was summoned in the ninth inning once again to protect a 5-2 lead.
Same score as last year - but no drama this time.
"It's just business. I've got to go out there and get three outs," Robertson said.
He made quick work of the Yankees to earn his 32nd save in 39 chances. It was Robertson's first appearance against New York since signing a $46 million, four-year contract with the White Sox in December.
"I saw him today for the first time, really, and it was kind of strange to see him in another uniform," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Mike Olt and Gordon Beckham homered for the White Sox in the seventh inning and prized rookie Carlos Rodon pitched out of trouble all night as Chicago damaged New York's playoff drive.
The Yankees still have a firm hold on the top AL wild-card spot, but they fell four games behind first-place Toronto in the AL East.
With his parents in the stands, Olt hit a tiebreaking shot off CC Sabathia that soared into the second deck in left field. One out later, No. 9 batter Beckham made it 4-2 with his sixth home run of the season.
New York grounded into four double plays, which helped Rodon (9-6) overcome five walks and two hit batters in winning his third consecutive start. The left-hander bounced back nicely from a wretched outing at home against the Yankees on July 31, when he yielded eight runs and eight hits in three innings.
"Part of that was they waited him out, and I think he learned something that night," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "When he came back for his next start, it was obvious he had a different approach."
Pitching with a brace on his arthritic right knee, Sabathia (5-10) has been more effective since returning from the disabled list Sept. 9. He fell behind early but kept the Yankees close until they tied it on a two-run single by Didi Gregorius in the fourth.
New York then loaded the bases, but Chase Headley grounded into an inning-ending double play.
"That was huge," Rodon said.
Rookie right fielder Trayce Thompson aided Rodon earlier in the inning when he robbed Greg Bird of extra bases with an athletic running catch.
With two on in the sixth, speedy Brett Gardner grounded into a double play that ended the inning.
The 22-year-old Rodon is 5-2 with a 1.81 ERA in his last eight starts - and this was probably his season finale, Ventura said. Drafted third overall last year out of North Carolina State, Rodon maintained his poise through six innings during his first game at Yankee Stadium.
"He didn't have his best control, but he learned how to get through it with a professional lineup," Ventura said.
Adam Eaton added an RBI single in the ninth.
Alexei Ramirez hit an RBI double off Sabathia in the second, and Avisail Garcia had a run-scoring single in the third.
Chicago stopped its three-game skid and a nine-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium with its first victory in the Bronx since June 29, 2012.
ONE-SIDED
Sabathia dropped to 19-5 in 34 starts versus the White Sox. He had been 5-0 against them with the Yankees, but hadn't faced Chicago since September 2013.
HOMECOMING
Olt was back at third base after sitting out Thursday night with a sore right shoulder. He grew up in nearby Connecticut and said his parents were sitting in the upper deck on the third base side with about 20 friends and family members. "It was pretty cool to be able to do something like that here for them," Olt said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox 2B Micah Johnson was out of the lineup for the fourth consecutive day. He's been nursing some nagging knee discomfort, Ventura said. ... Ace lefty Chris Sale will get one more start next Thursday or Friday and rookie RHP Frankie Montas probably will make one more as well, Ventura said.
UP NEXT
White Sox: LHP John Danks (7-13) gets the ball Saturday. He is 3-3 with a 5.19 ERA against the Yankees.
Yankees: RHP Adam Warren (6-7) is 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA in six starts at home this season.