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White Sox rally past Mets 6-4 to stop 7-game slide

NEW YORK — After tumbling into a long losing streak by coughing up late leads, the White Sox ended it by coming from behind.

Tyler Saladino hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning and Chicago rallied from an early four-run deficit, stopping a seven-game slide Tuesday night with a 6-4 victory over the New York Mets.

Todd Frazier's two-run drive was his 16th homer this season, and the White Sox got four innings of scoreless relief from their beleaguered bullpen to win for only the fifth time in 20 games.

"You're down 4-0, I think a lesser group rolls over and just gives up, and they won't do that," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said.

Neil Walker hit a two-run homer for the Mets, who led 4-0 after three innings. But rookie Steven Matz, trying to win his eighth consecutive start, suddenly faded in the sixth and gave up three quick runs.

Melky Cabrera drew a leadoff walk in the eighth from Hansel Robles (0-3). One out later, Saladino sent a 2-2 fastball to left field for his third home run, putting Chicago in front 5-4.

"To put the boys ahead, that's everything," Saladino said.

Brett Lawrie, moved up to the No. 2 slot in the batting order, added an RBI single off Logan Verrett with two outs.

Robles has served up four home runs in his past two outings. Before that, he had given up one all season.

"I've paid the consequences for not locating," Robles said through a translator.

Zach Putnam, Dan Jennings (2-1), Nate Jones and David Robertson each worked a spotless inning in relief of White Sox starter Mat Latos, charged with two earned runs and four hits in five innings.

Robertson struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 13th save in 15 chances.

"We did our job," he said. "We scuffled for a little while. A few of us had some really bad outings, but today was a lot smoother and we did what we were supposed to do."

Chicago's bullpen was battered for 18 earned runs, 25 hits and 12 walks in the previous eight games.

"It was a nice job by those guys and you've got to stick with them," Ventura said.

In his last outing, Robertson gave up a career-worst six runs in the ninth inning Saturday at Kansas City. Looking to change fortunes, he covered his high socks Tuesday night and wore his uniform pant legs all the way down.

"Yeah, listen, we're mixing it up. We needed a win, so I went with them down. I wore a different jersey," Robertson said. "It felt uncomfortable but it worked."

Yoenis Cespedes and Curtis Granderson had sacrifice flies for New York. Each followed an error by Frazier at third base in the first two innings.

Saladino, who reached safely all four times up, walked with two outs and stole second and third on consecutive pitches by a preoccupied Matz before scoring on Dioner Navarro's single.

"I didn't think he'd be too interested in me right there," Saladino said.

Matz yielded seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. His career-best 19-inning shutout streak ended when Frazier homered.

"Threw one bad pitch and I paid for it. That's baseball sometimes," Matz said. "Looking back at it, maybe I was rushing a little bit."

THOR IN RELIEF

Mets manager Terry Collins used starter Noah Syndergaard out of the bullpen for a scoreless seventh inning. He threw 17 pitches and consistently hit 100 mph on the radar gun. Syndergaard struck out two batters and protected a one-run lead that Robles soon squandered.

Syndergaard, scheduled to start Friday in Miami, threw only 34 pitches last Saturday before he was ejected in the third inning for firing a 99 mph fastball behind Chase Utley of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"They've got a pretty good seventh-inning guy," Ventura said with a smile. "Just a nice bounce-back for us that we could score after that."

RUNNING WILD

Chicago stole four bases in a game for the first time since Aug. 6, 2011, at Minnesota.

TRAINER'S ROOM

White Sox: CF Austin Jackson was unavailable again because of pain in his left foot caused by turf toe or something similar, Ventura said. He doesn't think the injury will require a trip to the disabled list and hopes Jackson will be able to return this weekend in Detroit. ... SS Jimmy Rollins was rested in favor of Saladino, who hit a three-run homer Saturday against Kansas City. "He's definitely going to get some more playing time," Ventura said. Rollins walked as a pinch hitter in the eighth and scored on Lawrie's single.

Mets: 3B David Wright missed his fourth straight game with a herniated disk in his neck.

UP NEXT

Mets RHP Jacob deGrom (3-1, 2.81 ERA) pitches against RHP Miguel Gonzalez (0-1, 4.50) in the series finale Wednesday afternoon.

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