White Sox 4, Reds 3
CHICAGO -- Gordon Beckham delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Chicago White Sox a 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field.
Beckham drove a 2-2 pitch by Reds closer Aroldis Chapman into right center field, driving in Avisail Garcia, who singled after Chapman had retired the first two hitters in the inning.
Chicago (12-16) won the final two games of the three-game series.
The Reds (15-16) rallied in the ninth inning, touching up White Sox closer David Robertson, who blew his first save of the season, allowing a two-run lead to vanish. Designated hitter Devin Mesoraco and catcher Brayan Pena both singled before shortstop Zack Cozart came through with a two-run double.
The Reds weren't able to tack on a potentially game-winning run as Robertson struck out the next two hitters he faced before getting first baseman Joey Votto to ground out.
The White Sox snapped a 1-1 tie without the benefit of a hit. Designated hitter Jose Abreu and first baseman Adam LaRoche drew back-to-back walks off of Reds reliever Tony Cingrani before both runners advanced on a sacrifice fly by Garcia. Ramirez -- who homered twice in Saturday's doubleheader -- drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly, scoring Abreu.
Chicago added a run in the eighth inning when Emilio Bonifacio grounded into a run-scoring fielder's choice.
White Sox starting pitcher John Danks played a major role in shutting down the Reds until then. Danks, whose longest outing prior to Sunday had been six innings, worked seven innings, allowing just one run on six hits. Danks struck out three and walked four.
The White Sox missed a golden scoring opportunity in the fourth inning, loading the bases with no one out. But after Reds third baseman Todd Frazier snared a Melky Cabrera liner, Cincinnati first baseman started a double play on a Jose Abreu ground ball that kept the score tied.
NOTES: With his 100th career home run May 9, Chicago SS Alexei Ramirez joined Ray Durham and Minnie Minoso as the only White Sox to hit at least 100 home runs and steal at least 100 bases. Ramirez and Jose Valentin are the only two White Sox shortstops to club 100 career home runs. ... Sunday was the final day of a five-game suspension for White Sox RHP Jeff Samardzija, who will start for Chicago on Monday in Milwaukee. ... White Sox manager Robin Ventura declined to comment on whether LHP Carlos Rodon would join the starting rotation, stating the rookie won't pitch until next weekend in Oakland. ... Reds C Devin Mesoraco started for the second straight day at designated hitter. Prior to hitting fourth as a DH on May 9 against the White Sox, Mesoraco hadn't started a game since April 11 when he sustained a hip injury.