CHICAGO (AP) - Jose Abreu got another chance in a key spot for the Chicago White Sox. This time, he delivered.
Abreu hit a game-ending, two-run single off Dellin Betances, and the White Sox stopped a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.
Abreu also had an RBI double in the third. The big first baseman batted with the bases loaded in the eighth inning and struck out.
“After that at-bat when I struck out, I was thinking, ’God, give me one more opportunity, one more opportunity to do my job,’” Abreu said through a translator. “I’m glad that I got that opportunity because I was able to help my team win the game.”
Kevan Smith sparked the winning rally with a one-out walk. Betances (3-2) then walked Alen Hanson and hit Yolmer Sanchez, loading the bases.
After Melky Cabrera fouled out, Abreu hit a grounder into left field. Brett Gardner’s throw to the plate was high, and Hanson scored easily.
Dan Jennings (3-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win.
New York wasted an outstanding start by Luis Severino, who struck out a career-high 12 while pitching seven innings of one-run ball. It has dropped three of four and 11 of 14 overall.
“They all sting,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi. “I mean, we put ourselves in a position to win. We just gave too many free baserunners in the last two innings.”
The Yankees trailed 1-0 before Aaron Judge hit an RBI single in the eighth. Gary Sanchez then hit a two-run double, making it 3-1 New York.
But the Yankees’ bullpen faltered again after nearly losing a five-run lead in the ninth inning of Monday night’s 6-5 win. Domingo German walked the only two batters he faced in the eighth, and Tyler Clippard walked Todd Frazier with two out and the bases loaded to force home a run.
Clippard then struck out Matt Davidson to end the inning, sending New York to the ninth with a 3-2 lead.
“Borderline calls, man, it was kind of a tight zone,” Clippard said. “Not to say that (plate umpire Joe West) missed a bunch, but they were calls that could have gone either way, and we didn’t really get any of ’em.”
Chicago manager Rick Renteria credited his players for being selective.
“That was an interesting two innings,” he said. “The guys ended up working at-bats.”
Jose Quintana pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings for the White Sox, allowing two hits. He struck out six and walked four.
In five June starts, Quintana is 2-1 with a 1.78 ERA.
WORTH NOTING
Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury tied Pete Rose’s obscure record for reaching base the most times in a career on catcher’s interference.
Ellsbury did it for the 29th time. His bat tipped the mitt of Smith on a swing in the ninth inning and Ellsbury was awarded first base.
Rose, baseball’s career hits leader, had 15,890 plate appearances in his career. Ellsbury matched the odd mark in only 5,129.
SOLID DEBUT
New York prospect Tyler Wade, who was called up before the game, drew a one-out walk as a pinch hitter in the eighth in his major league debut.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: 2B Starlin Castro was placed on the 10-day disabled list. Although an MRI revealed a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, Castro doesn’t believe he’ll be sidelined more than the required 10 days. … DH Matt Holliday sat out his third straight game stemming from an allergic reaction he had in Oakland on June 17. “I think if it doesn’t clear up fairly soon,” Girardi said, “it’s possible that you send him back to New York to be further evaluated and see what’s going on.”
White Sox: INF Tyler Saladino (back spasms) appears on target to return following the All-Star break. He hasn’t played since May 16.
UP NEXT
Chicago LHP Carlos Rodon (left biceps bursitis) will make his 2017 debut in the third of the four-game series Wednesday night against RHP Masahiro Tanaka (5-7, 5.74 ERA). Tanaka has had a down year but pitched eight shutout innings last Friday in no-decision vs. Texas.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.