CHICAGO (AP) - The White Sox bullpen provided one opportunity after another.
It just took a utility infielder on the mound for the Boston Red Sox to finally take full advantage.
Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run double off Leury Garcia in the top of the 14th inning and the Boston Red Sox outlasted the White Sox 6-4 in a game that lasted 5 hours, 17 minutes Wednesday night.
The Red Sox managed just six hits, but took advantage of 15 walks issued by Chicago pitching, including 11 after the seventh inning.
“We just for one reason or another we didn’t seem to throw it over,” Ventura said. “So, you know, a game that if you are going to give them that many opportunities, you are little surprised you are in it that late into the game.”
The White Sox have had a strong start to the season in every area except the bullpen. Before Wednesday’s struggles, Chicago relievers had allowed 29 earned runs in 40 innings pitched for an ERA of 6.53.
In scoring twice in the eighth and ninth innings, Boston had just one hit - a weak infield single down the third-base line - but walked six times in the two innings.
With the score tied at 4 after 13 innings, the White Sox ran out of pitchers after Daniel Webb threw 59 pitches in three innings, so manager Robin Ventura turned to Garcia (0-1) to start the 14th. Garcia is the first White Sox position player to take the mound since Casper Wells pitched a scoreless inning last June.
Garcia retired the first two batters, but then walked Daniel Nava and Jonathan Herrera, and Bradley followed with his big hit.
“(Garcia) was actually kind of funky there, kind of throwing rise balls. It was just one of those things when I wanted to make him throw strikes,” Bradley said. “He got behind 2-0, ended up working it back and I just wanted to stay back and see it late and I put a pretty good swing on it.”
Chris Capuano (1-0) pitched 2 2-3 innings of scoreless relief to get the win. Burke Badenhop got the final out for his first save of the season.
Each team blew a lead in the ninth inning or later.
Alexei Ramirez hit a two-run homer to extend his hitting streak to begin the season, and John Danks allowed one run in six innings to give White Sox a 3-1 lead after seven innings.
Dustin Pedroia was back in Boston’s lineup in the leadoff position after not starting the previous two games because of inflammation in his left wrist. He immediately made an impact, doubling to left field in the first inning and scoring as the next batter, Xander Bogaerts, singled to center.
It was the Red Sox’s first first-inning run of the season. They were the last team this season to score in the opening inning.
The lead, though, was short-lived as the White Sox scratched across a run in the bottom of the inning against Boston starter Clay Buchholz.
That’s where the score stayed until the bottom of the sixth when Ramirez homered off Buchholz. The 15-game streak to start a season ties a White Sox record also held by Frank Thomas, who did it in 1996.
“I wasn’t even aware of that so I’m thankful it happened,” Ramirez said, “But I wasn’t even thinking about it. … I was more concentrating on the game than anything else.”
NOTES: White Sox 1B Paul Konerko agreed to come back for one more season knowing he’d be a part-time player, but before Thursday, he had only eight at-bats in six games and started one. He’s expected to make his first home start Thursday in the series finale. “I think he’s done all right,” Ventura said. “It is an adjustment. He’s always looking for (pinch-hitting) spots. He’s playing along with the game and trying to figure out what’s going to be the spot.” … Boston LHP Jon Lester faces LHP Chris Sale in the series finale. … Red Sox OF Shane Victorino (hamstring) is expected to begin a rehab stint Friday, while RHP Koji Uehara (shoulder) was fine following a bullpen session Wednesday and could be available Thursday.
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