ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Brian Goodwin’s playing time has decreased since Justin Upton returned to the Los Angeles Angels’ lineup. Still, the outfielder is making the most of his opportunities when he does get to start.
Goodwin homered and walked with the bases loaded to bring in the go-ahead run as the Angels rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night.
“It seems like every time he plays, he makes it more difficult. But I guess it’s a very good problem to have,” manager Brad Ausmus said. “When you do put him in there, he’s going to fill the role.”
Goodwin played in all but eight of the Angels’ first 72 games (including 54 starts) while Upton was on the injured list with turf toe. Since the slugger came back, Goodwin has seen action in only 36 games - and Saturday marked just his 19th start.
“It ain’t easy, I can tell you that,” Goodwin said. “I’m just trying to stay close to coaches and teammates, get the same work in day in and day out.”
Goodwin tied the game at 1 in the second inning when he drove Hector Santiago’s fastball over the wall in center field for his 11th home run of the season. Upton also homered early, but the Angels trailed 5-2 going into the seventh.
Los Angeles sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning and scored off four Chicago pitchers. Mike Trout lined a bases-loaded single to knock in two runs, and Upton tied it with a sharp grounder that went under the glove of third baseman Ryan Goins for an error.
Trout scored the go-ahead run when Goodwin drew a bases-loaded walk from Evan Marshall (3-2) with two outs. It was the fourth walk of the inning issued by a White Sox pitcher.
“We had a lot of base on balls that particular inning,” manager Rick Renteria said. “All in all it’s a ’pen that has been really good and today had a little problem.”
It was the fifth time in 63 games the Angels won when trailing after six innings. Taylor Cole (3-4) got the win with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, and Hansel Robles retired the side in order in the ninth for his 18th save.
Eloy Jiménez homered during a four-run third inning for the White Sox, who lost for just the second time in 44 games when leading after six.
Jiménez hit a two-run shot to center off José Suarez for his 21st of the season, which leads AL rookies. His drive came after James McCann gave the White Sox a 3-1 lead with a double to left.
STREAKS AND STATS
Shohei Ohtani came on as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and singled to extend his hitting streak to eight games, which matches a season high. … Upton homered in the third for his ninth of the season. He has 17 RBIs this month after having just eight in July. … White Sox RF Leury Garcia has reached base safely in 22 of the last 23 games after he led off with a triple. … C Welington Castillo had a season-best seven-game hitting streak snapped.
FOR STARTERS
Santiago went 4 2/3 innings in his second start this season for the White Sox and yielded two runs on four hits.
The Angels went with an opener for the 23rd time this season. Noé Ramirez got the start for the fifth time and allowed a run on two hits in 1 1/3 innings before giving way to Suarez. The left-hander went four innings and was tagged for four runs and six hits.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: LHP Manny Banuelos (shoulder inflammation), on the 60-day injured list, has started a rehab assignment at Class A Winston-Salem with no timetable for a return. . RHP Carson Fulmer continues to feel tightness in his strained right hamstring, limiting his activity.
Angels: Ohtani threw curveballs for the first time since Tommy John surgery last fall during a 40-pitch session. The right-hander said he threw 10-12 curves and his fastball reached 85 mph. … SS Andrelton Simmons (left ankle sprain) took swings in a batting cage for the first time since going on the injured list Aug. 4.
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP Dylan Cease (6-9, 5.10 ERA) will face the Angels for the first time.
Angels: RHP Griffin Canning (4-6, 4.86 ERA) has allowed three runs or fewer in all but four of 16 starts this season.
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