Chicago White Sox catcher Alex Avila, left, congratulates relief pitcher Matt Albers after the White Sox defeated the Mets in the 13th inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 1, 2016, in NY. The Mets are a somewhat patient team, recording 153 walks this season before Wednesday’s game, but White Sox pitchers have to make a better effort at not giving a free pass to the opposing team, which is going to come with more trust in the Sox’s strong defense all around the diamond.
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In the first extra-inning game at Citi Field since Kansas City won Game 5 of last year’s World Series to take the title, Verrett (3-3) thought he could blow a fastball by Albers (2-4).
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Danny Valencia had three hits, including a pair of doubles; Billy Butler added two hits and an RBI and Oakland beat Minnesota to win its fifth straight game.
Albers improved to 2-4 on the season as he worked two innings allowing one hit, two walks and one strikeout. It landed just short of the warning track, took two hops and bounced off the fence.
The 33-year-old Albers went into second standing up, pumping a fist three times as teammates roared, pounding the dugout railing and each other on the back. The lack of hitting will continue to cost the Mets games unless they can figure out a way to grind out more runs when they aren’t hitting home runs.
Albers’ game-winning run is obviously an uncommon occurrence for an American League pitcher, but it’s even rarer than one might think. The White Sox did not answer until the seventh, when Todd Frazier jumped on deGrom’s high changeup for his MLB-leading 17th home run.
“When a pitcher gets a hit and gets on base, it gets fun”, Ventura said. Righty Logan Verrett (3-3) then wild-pitched the slow moving Albers to third and he scored on Jose Abreu’s sacrifice fly. Verrett (L, 3-3) served up a hanging fastball that Albers crushed over the head of Juan Lagares for a double.
The victory was the Sox’ second in a row and gave them their first series win in their last seven.
“They’ve got a pretty good seventh-inning guy”, Chicago manager Robin Ventura said with a smile. Rivera and Neil Walker each had two hits.
“A hit means nothing if I don’t go out there and get those next three outs”.
Ventura could breathe a little easier Tuesday night after the White Sox rallied from a four-run deficit for a 6-4 win against the Mets, stopping a seven-game losing streak.
The Mets’ lone run came on Rene Rivera’s two-out single in the second that scored James Loney, who had led off with a walk against Miguel Gonzalez.
Chicago’s bullpen, which wasted late leads in three games at Kansas City last weekend, pitched 13 scoreless innings against the Mets in the three-game series.
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It’s Noah Syndergaard (5-2) vs. Bronx native Tom Koehler (3-5).
