Grand Slam Allows A's To Overtake White Sox 4-3
CHICAGO (AP) —Josh Donaldson hit his first career grand slam, Josh Reddick made a homer-saving catch in the ninth inning, and the Oakland Athletics rallied from a three-run deficit Friday night for a 4-3 victory over Chris Sale and the Chicago White Sox.
Donaldson's ninth home run of the season came in the sixth inning and helped Oakland right-hander Jarrod Parker (5-6) earn his fourth win in five decisions.
Reddick made a leaping catch to take away a home run from Chicago's Conor Gillaspie with one out in the ninth to preserve the win.
Sale (5-4) hadn't given up more than two earned runs since April 11, and he cruised out to a 3-0 lead through five innings in this one.
In the sixth Adam Rosales singled and, after Coco Crisp struck out, Jed Lowrie singled. Yoenis Cespedes followed with walk, and Donaldson hit a 1-1 pitch for an opposite-field home run to right to give Oakland a 4-3 lead.
The Athletics won for the 18th time in 21 games and the White Sox lost for the 10th time in 11.
Parker beat the White Sox for the second time in five days with a seven-inning, five-hit effort. He walked two and struck out four.
Reliever Ryan Cook pitched out of a first-and-second jam with none out in the eighth and Grant Balfour pitched the ninth for his 15th save.
Sale stayed in the game for 118 pitches. He left after striking out Crisp to lead off the eighth. Sale allowed five hits, walked one and struck out six.
The White Sox led 1-0 on Tyler Flowers' third-inning home run on a 0-2 pitch by Parker.
In the fourth, Dayan Viciedo's sacrifice fly to left scored Alex Rios, who had singled, stole second when Adam Dunn struck out, and moved to third when catcher Derek Norris threw the ball into center field for an error on the stolen base.
Chicago expanded the lead to 3-0 on a fifth-inning sacrifice fly by Alejandro De Aza, scoring Gordon Beckham. Beckham had led off with a single, moved up on Jordan Danks' ground out and took third on Flowers' single.
NOTES: Chicago played for the second straight game without manager Robin Ventura, who was on the West Coast for his daughter's graduation. ... The Athletics are now 5-0 on the season against Chicago. ... The grand slam allowed by Sale was the first home run he gave up in five starts. ... Flowers' home run was his fifth, but first in 24 games. He matched a career high with three hits in the game. ... Saturday's starters will be Oakland's Tommy Milone (6-5, 3.91) and Chicago's John Danks (0-2, 5.06). ... The White Sox have a family tie to their third-round pick in Friday's baseball draft, outfielder Jacob May of Coastal Carolina. May is the grandson of former Cincinnati Reds player Lee May. Lee May's brother is former White Sox first baseman Carlos May.
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