ChiSox top Yanks on Wise’s single in 9th
July 31, 2009
CHICAGO (AP)—Last Thursday, DeWayne Wise(notes) impressed his teammates by making aspectacular catch against the wall to help secure Mark Buehrle’s(notes) perfect game. Aweek later, Wise did it from the plate to help beat the AL’s best team.
After White Sox reliever Matt Thornton(notes) allowed a game-tying home run to NickSwisher(notes) in the top of the ninth, Wise, who again entered as a defensivereplacement, hit a game-ending RBI single in the bottom half to give the ChicagoWhite Sox a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Thursday night.
“I can’t say enough about DeWayne and how he stepped in at the end of thegame and came up big for us again,” White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham(notes)said. “Nobody wanted to go to extra innings because we were pretty down afterthat home run, obviously, he pulled us out again. That’s a tribute to him as aplayer.”
Swisher tied it in the top half with a solo shot to left after the Yankeesfell behind 2-1 in the seventh thanks to some shoddy defense. With the Red Sox’svictory, New York’s lead in the AL East dropped to 2 1/2 games.
Series at a Glance NY Yankees 2 Chi White Sox 3 Thu, Jul 30 – Final NY Yankees at Chi White Sox Fri, Jul 31 – 8:11 pm ET NY Yankees at Chi White Sox Sat, Aug 1 – 4:10 pm ET
After a miserable 1-6 road trip, the White Sox also got an RBI double byBeckham in the third inning as Chicago won for just the second time in eightgames.
Jim Thome(notes) singled with one out in the ninth off Yankees reliever Phil Hughes(notes)(4-3), who had not given up a run in his last 16 appearances.
Paul Konerko(notes) followed with a single. Yankees reliever Phil Coke(notes) entered andretired A.J. Pierzynski(notes). Wise then hit a liner to center that scoredpinch-runner Scott Podsednik(notes) easily from second and ended Hughes’ scorelessstreak at 25 1-3 innings.
“I was just looking for something I could handle and tried to stay up themiddle. I got a cutter or a slider and I was able to stay back and hit a linedrive over the middle,” Wise said.
Wise missed a month earlier in the season with a separated left shoulder andhas struggled at times at the plate, but he has made a name for himself in thelast week.
“That’s why one of the reasons why we have him there. We think this kidcould play the role he’s been doing and everything has come out pretty nice forhim,” Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn declared Thursday Mark Buehrle day, in honor ofhis perfect game.
“I told Buehrle, today is Mark Buehrle day, hopefully we can keep thatgoing for awhile,” Wise said.
After striking out the first two batters in the ninth inning, Thornton (5-2)gave up the homer to Swisher, the former White Sox switch-hitter to tie it at 2.Swisher was traded in the offseason to New York after he feuded with Guillenover playing time late last season.
“You have a guy like Matt Thornton, it feels like he’s throwing about 120.I was just trying to get the barrel on it somehow,” Swisher said. “Maybe I gotlucky but I’ll take it.”
White Sox starter Gavin Floyd(notes), used a late-breaking curveball to get sevenof his 10 strikeouts on called strike 3s. He only allowed one run on four hitsand one walk in 7 2-3 innings.
“With a guy like Floyd nothing seemed like it was going straight,” Swishersaid.
The Yankees wasted a strong effort by Andy Pettitte(notes), who was hurt by twoerrors—one by the pitcher—in the seventh.
Thome hit a slow bouncer down the first basepath leading off and Pettitteslipped on the grass as he touched the ball in fair territory with his mitt. Theball rolled out of his reach allowing Thome make it to first on the error.
One out later, Pierzynski hit a hard grounder to third baseman AlexRodriguez(notes). The ball deflected off Rodriguez’s mitt as he was moving to his left.The play was originally scored as an error, but was changed minutes later to ahit.
With one out, Hughes relieved and got Carlos Quentin(notes) to hit a bouncer tothird, a potential double-play ball. But Pierzynski barreled into secondknocking second baseman Robinson Cano(notes) off-balance, resulting in an errant throwto first base. Thome scored for a 2-1 lead.
“He was right on top of me but I only got four fingers on the ball, that’swhy I didn’t make a good throw, Cano said. “If I had a good grip on the ball, Imight have hit him in the mouth.”
Pettitte allowed two runs—one earned—on five hits and did not allow awalk. He has only won once in his last seven starts.
NOTES: White Sox closer Bobby Jenks(notes) was not available because of kidneystones. … Despite very little rain, the start of game was delayed 64 minutes.Forecasts called for a storm, which never ensued. … White Sox SS AlexeiRamirez(notes) missed the game with a sprained right ankle. Ramirez injured his anklein Wednesday’s loss at Minnesota. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen doesn’t expectRamirez to play Friday and Saturday.
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