Gregor: Sox climb back to win extra-inning thriller
Criticize the Chicago White Sox for putting themselves in one hole after another.
Give them credit for consistently trying to climb out.
Returning to U.S. Cellular Field on Monday to face the Angels after losing three straight to the Royals at Kansas City over the weekend, the White Sox' up-and-down season finally looked finished.
But the Sox outlasted Los Angeles 3-2 in 13 innings Wednesday night and completed a three-game sweep of the Angels.
Avisail Garcia doubled to left-center field with one out in the 13th to score Jose Abreu and decide the outcome.
"It's a nice win," manager Robin Ventura said after the White Sox improved to 54-58. "For us, just play to day. Our guys are feeling that feeling again. For us, just play day to day, and that's what they're going to do."
John Danks, the consensus weak link in the starting rotation, continued to pitch like an ace against Los Angeles.
The left-hander worked 7⅓ innings against the Angels and allowed 1 run on 5 hits.
While ace Chris Sale and No. 2 starter Jeff Samardzija have had some rough outings since the all-star break, Danks is 2-1 with a 2.75 ERA in 6 starts.
"Johnny pitched a good game," Ventura said. "I thought he did great. It's nice to see from him. He went deep in the game, he did everything he could. The command was great, even getting out of some tough spots. We didn't hold it but I thought the bullpen did an outstanding job of coming in there.
"They were all wheeling and dealing. They got us to a point where we eventually win the game. We got into some tight spots and were able to withstand it."
Not only has his fastball regained some life three years after he had shoulder surgery, Danks is doing a much better job keeping his changeup down in the strike zone.
Danks had a great chance to win against Los Angeles, but closer David Robertson couldn't hold a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning.
In fairness to Robertson, first baseman Abreu made a mental mistake in the ninth that allowed the Angels to tie the game at 2.
With runners on first and third and one out, former White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie came to the plate against Robertson and grounded to Abreu.
After stepping on first for the second out of the inning, Abreu threw to second base for an attempted double play.
The Angels' Johnny Giavotella worked himself into a rundown while heading to second, and pinch-runner Taylor Featherston easily scored from third base.
Giavotella, meanwhile, was awarded second base when Alexei Ramirez was called for interference.
"He's either coming home or he needs to turn it," Ventura said of Abreu. "I think he had it reversed of the combination of what he was going to do."
Trailing 1-0 in the fifth inning, the Sox tied the game on Gordon Beckham's sacrifice fly.
In the sixth, Ramirez' RBI double off Angels starter Andrew Heaney put the White Sox in front.