THE SPRING AWAKENING
After miserable start, Sox rally late to earn fifth straight victory
BOSTON — How hot are the White Sox right now?
You know you’re hot when you don’t hit a lick for eight innings and still win. On another cold, windy day.
Jose Abreu doubled in free runner AJ Pollock from second in the 10th inning and scored on Luis Robert’s single, giving the White Sox a 3-1 victory over the Red Sox on Saturday for their fifth straight win.
The Sox, whose offense had been lifeless for eight innings — three of their singles before the ninth were of the infield or pop-up variety — tied it against Hansel Robles in the ninth when Jake Burger led off with a walk, advanced to third on Adam Engel’s double down the third-base line and scored on Leury Garcia’s sacrifice fly to right.
“All game long, we kept trying to push, and [Nick Pivetta, 7.84 ERA going in] shut us out [with six scoreless innings],” manager Tony La Russa said. “We kept pushing, and with a late rally, [we were] rewarded. It makes it extra special.
“It proves what I’ve been telling you all about them all along. Heart, guts, talent.”
After a deflating 7-12 start, the Sox began a stretch of six wins in seven games on the last day of April. They go for a series sweep of the Red Sox (10-18) on Sunday.
The Red Sox were poised to snap a four-game losing streak in the ninth after the White Sox tied it, but Reynaldo Lopez (4-0) stranded runners at second and third after allowing a double to Christian Vazquez. Lopez, who worked two scoreless innings, struck out Bobby Dalbec looking with the infield pulled in, then got Trevor Story on an inningending pop-up to force extra innings.
“I tried to calm myself down and relax,” Lopez said through bench coach Miguel Cairo, serving as a translator.
“After being a starter and now pitching in relief, coming in for one inning, I really have to concentrate and focus on the job at hand.”
Center fielder Robert cut off Vazquez’s double in the gap, possibly preventing Jackie Bradley Jr. from scoring from first.
“I knew it was a fast runner on first, so I did my best to get to the ball and get it back to the infield,” Robert said through Cairo.
Dylan Cease pitched five innings of one-run ball, striking out eight and allowing four hits. He needed 101 pitches to get through it. Bennett Sousa, Jose Ruiz and Lopez got the ball to closer Liam Hendriks, who pitched a perfect 10th for his ninth save, including saves in each of the Sox’ wins during their streak.
Hendriks also finished a 4-0 victory over the Angels on April 30 and hasn’t allowed a hit since April 24 in Minnesota, seven appearances ago. He has retired 18 of the last 20 batters faced.
Tim Anderson (two singles) had his 11th multihit game, Garcia had two hits and a stolen base with an RBI and Engel had the big hit in the ninth to salvage a rough day.
“How about Engel?” La Russa said. “He strikes out three times, and what does he do in the ninth? Bam! He wasn’t out there down, ‘I’m having a bad day.’ He collected himself. There were so many things that happened.”
Robert, batting fourth for the third straight game, had two singles. He has a hit in each of his last six games.
“This kind of game, that’s what we need to get our confidence up,” Robert said. “We had a really rough April, and to win this kind of game gives us hope. Our hope is up, our confidence is up. Everything is up.
“I knew we’d come out of that. We believe in ourselves.”