Recap: Oakland vs. Chicago WSox
Sports Network | August 16, 2008
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Kurt Suzuki hit a game-winning, pinch-hit, two-run home run in the ninth and Jack Cust added two homers himself, as the Oakland Athletics edged the Chicago White Sox in dramatic fashion, 6-4, in the opener of a three-game set.
Pinch-hitter Emil Brown opened the home ninth with a double to the gap in left-center off Horacio Ramirez (1-2). Daric Barton then laid down a sac bunt to move pinch-runner Cliff Pennington to third before D.J. Carrasco was called on in relief. Suzuki then launched a 3-2 slider over the left field fence for the game-winner.
Cust finished with three RBI and three hits while Mark Ellis had a solo homer for the A's, who have two wins in their last six contests and had dropped 23- of-27 coming in. Frank Thomas went 2-for-4 and scored in the win.
Oakland starter Dallas Braden lasted seven innings and gave up three runs on seven hits in the no-decision. Huston Street (3-5) picked up the win with a scoreless ninth.
AJ Pierzynski and Carlos Quentin both hit solo homers for the Pale Hose, who saw their three-game win streak come to an end as the club fell into a tie with the Minnesota Twins for the AL Central lead. The Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 9-3 on Friday. Jim Thome and Paul Konerko both drove in a run in defeat. Gavin Floyd lasted 5 2/3 innings and gave up two runs -- one earned -- on six hits while fanning four and walking two in the no-decision.
The ChiSox got on the board in the first inning with three runs. Pierzynski clubbed a solo homer before Quentin singled and Jermaine Dye doubled. Thome kept it going with an RBI single and Konerko then offered a sac fly.
Thomas led off the sixth with a single, and two batters later, Cust ripped his 21st homer of the year to left, making it 3-2.
Quentin led off the top of the eighth with a homer off Jerry Blevins, but Oakland got two runs back in the home half to tie it up.
Ellis welcomed Octavio Dotel to the game with a leadoff homer. Thomas and Carlos Gonzalez were both retired, but Cust belted another home run to make it 4-4.
It was the fourth career multi-homer game for Cust...Suzuki has one other walk-off homer on August 16, 2007, which was also against the White Sox...Floyd is unbeaten over his last five starts (2-0)...Oakland took a 4-3 lead in the 2008 season series...Prior to the game Chicago recalled pitcher Clayton Richard from Triple-A Charlotte...Chicago is 6-28 at Oakland since the start of the 2001 season.
