White Sox 4, A's 3
Pinch-hitters Mark Kotsay and Mark Teahen drove in runs in the ninth inning as the Chicago White Sox snapped a long losing streak with a 4-3 victory in the finale of a three-game set against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday afternoon.
Kotsay brought home the game-tying run by lining a two-out, 3-2 fastball to right field against Brad Ziegler (3-5). Teahen followed with a double to left on a 2-0 heater to give Chicago the lead.
Matt Thornton (4-4) got five outs for the win and Chris Sale struck out Steven Tolleson with two on in the ninth for his third save for the White Sox, who snapped an eight-game losing streak after being officially eliminated from postseason play on Tuesday.
Oakland begins a crucial four-game set against the Texas Rangers on Thursday. With the crushing Oakland loss, the Texas magic number for clinching the American League West is five. The Rangers play the Los Angeles Angels later Wednesday.
Oakland starter Brett Anderson carried a 2-1 lead into the seventh, and the A's tacked on an unearned run for a two-run bulge, but the bullpen couldn't close it out.
Chris Carter hit his first major league homer to open the scoring in the third and Jack Cust added an RBI single in the sixth for Oakland, which had won four of five.
Juan Pierre had two hits and scored on a steal of home for the White Sox, his 60th steal of the season.
Chicago starter Edwin Jackson pitched well, allowing three runs - two earned - and five hits in seven innings.