White Sox 8, A's 7 (14 innings)
CHICAGO -- After blowing a four-run lead in the ninth inning, the Chicago White Sox rebounded to beat the Oakland A's 8-7 in 14 innings Monday at U.S. Cellular Field.
Left fielder Melky Cabrera (4-for-8) lined a two-out single off Oakland right-hander Arnold Leon (0-2) in the 14th that just barely scored catcher Geovany Soto from second to end the game 5 hours, 9 minutes after it began. Soto started the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.
Left-hander Dan Jennings (2-3), Chicago's seventh pitcher, earned the win after two scoreless innings of relief.
The Athletics' four-run ninth prevented White Sox left-hander John Danks from earning a win after a quality start. Danks allowed three homers, but all were solo shots. They were the only three hits and runs he allowed in seven innings. He struck out six and walked three.
Chicago first baseman Jose Abreu went 3-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs to lead Chicago, breaking out of an 0-for-13 slump. The White Sox also got a home run and two RBIs from rookie right fielder Trayce Thompson, who sprained his left elbow in the ninth and left the game.
That was the first of multiple things to go wrong for Chicago that inning, which started with closer David Robertson on the mound in a non-save situation, leading 7-3.
The A's tied it 7-7 on two hits, a bases-loaded walk, an error on a catcher's interference that wiped out a game-inning double play, a wild pitch on a strikeout and a run-scoring passed ball.
The meltdown started with a shallow fly ball to right field by Brett Lawrie that became a double when Thompson couldn't come up with the catch after a diving effort that injured him.
Things quickly worsened from that point for Robertson, who struck out third baseman Danny Valencia, only to see him run safely to first after a wild pitch. Robertson whiffed designated hitter Billy Butler for the inning's first out and then appeared to get a game-ending double play by Josh Reddick. Instead, catcher Tyler Flowers was called catcher's interference by plate umpire Joe West, loading the bases.
Robertson then walked pinch hitter Coco Crisp to make it 7-4 before striking out left fielder Jake Smolinski for the second out. A two-run single by center fielder Sam Fuld made it 7-6 and moved Crisp to third, and Crisp scored after a pitch skipped off the top of Flowers' mitt for a passed ball.
Fuld, representing the go-ahead run, stole third before Robertson ended the inning by getting shortstop Marcus Semien to line out to center.
Oakland's trio of homers off Danks were hit by Smolinski, Lawrie and Reddick.
Chicago displayed its own firepower against Oakland ace Sonny Gray. The White Sox drove the right-hander from the game after just three-plus innings by tagging him with seven runs, including two-run homers by Abreu and Thompson.
NOTES: White Sox manager Robin Ventura said there are no plans to shut down ace LHP Chris Sale to save wear and tear on his arm. Sale, who could make four more starts, has an outside chance to record 300 strikeouts this season. ... Athletics manager Bob Melvin said CF Billy Burns (right hamstring tightness) wasn't likely to be available off the bench Monday and might not be able to play Tuesday. Burns began testing his hamstring while running before the game Monday. ... Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt (groin) did cardio work on an elliptical machine Monday, but wasn't able to take swings in the batting cages. ... Melvin said RHP Edward Mujica (hamstring) would not participate in any baseball-related activities for a couple days and then be re-evaluated. ... Athletics RHP Chris Bassitt (right shoulder soreness) was scheduled to throw 20 pitches off flat ground and 20 pitches off the bullpen mound prior to the game.