Nationals 9, White Sox 5 (14)
The Washington Nationals scored four runs in the 14th inning en route to their 12th victory in their last 13 games, a wild 9-5 decision over the host Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
The Nationals were playing their first game since the abrupt resignation of manager Jim Riggleman on Thursday.
Brian Bixler reached on a two-out infield single against Matt Thornton (0-4), stole second base and came around when Chicago shortstop Alexei Ramirez made an errant throw on a routine grounder by Ian Desmond. Roger Bernadina followed with an RBI single and Ryan Zimmerman added a two-run double, which helped seal the win for Collin Balester (1-0).
Washington prevailed despite squandering leads in the ninth, 10th and 12th innings. The Nationals first built a 3-0 cushion in the eighth on a two-run homer by Michael Morse and an RBI single by Desmond, but the White Sox drew even in the ninth on a three-run shot by pinch-hitter Mark Teahen.
Laynce Nix homered in the 10th for Washington, but the White Sox tied it when pinch-runner Omar Vizquel scored on a wild pitch.
Bixler's RBI double gave Washington a 5-4 lead in the 12th before A.J. Pierzynski hit a solo shot with two outs in the bottom half.
Neither starting pitcher factored in the decision despite throwing seven scoreless innings apiece. Washington's Jordan Zimmermann surrendered six hits and a walk, while Chicago starter Edwin Jackson allowed five hits, two walks and struck out eight.
The game was played in 4 hours, 58 minutes.