White Sox 3, Angels 2 (13 innings)
CHICAGO -- They did it the hard way, but the Chicago White Sox found a way to complete a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 3-2, 13-inning win Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
Chicago right fielder Avisail Garcia lined a double to the gap in left-center field off left-hander Cesar Ramos with one out in the bottom of the 13th, and Jose Abreu scored the winning run all the way from first base.
Ramos (2-1) took the loss. White Sox right-hander Matt Albers (2-0), Chicago's seventh pitcher of the game, got the win after throwing two scoreless innings.
The Angels (59-54) have lost all nine road games they've played since the All-Star break, their longest road skid since 1993.
Coming into the series, Chicago trailed Los Angeles by 7 1/2 games for the American League's second wild-card spot. The sweep put the White Sox 4 1/2 games behind the Angels, who also hold a narrow lead for that position over five other teams.
Each team squandered prime scoring opportunities in extra innings, but Los Angeles really struggled in those situations. The Angels advanced a runner to third base in the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th innings without scoring and overall went 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position. They also stranded 14 runners.
Los Angeles did manage to scratch out a run in the top of the ninth, which had a couple of controversial plays. The second of those resulted in the Angels tying the game 2-2 on a groundout by former White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie.
After pinch running for Angels designated hitter C.J. Cron with one out, Taylor Featherston went from first to third on a single by second baseman Johnny Giavotella. Gillaspie then hit a ground ball that was fielded by Chicago first baseman Jose Abreu, who stepped on first for the second out and threw to second to put Giavotella in a rundown.
During the rundown, Featherston scored the tying run before Giavotella was awarded second base when Chicago shortstop Alexei Ramirez was called for interfering with the base runner.
Prior to that sequence, Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia argued that lead-off hitter Erick Aybar should've been safe after catcher Tyler Flowers dropped the third strike. Flowers appeared to miss Aybar with a tag attempt.
Aybar was ruled out by home-plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth, and a video review upheld the ruling.
Closer David Robertson finally got out of the inning, but the game headed to the bottom of the ninth and then extra innings.
The late-inning drama overshadowed impressive performances by Chicago starter John Danks and third baseman Tyler Saladino.
Danks took a no-decision after throwing 7 1/3 innings and allowing just one run. He's posted a 2.75 ERA in his past six starts (36 innings), and that includes an outing in which he allowed six earned runs.
Saladino led the charge for the White Sox to take a 2-1 lead in the sixth, using an impressive series of fundamental plays in the field, at the plate and running the bases.
After throwing out speedy Angels star center fielder Mike Trout at the plate for a key out in the top of the sixth, Saladino led off Chicago's half of the inning with a single. He then used speed to negate a double play, advanced to third on another ground ball and scored on Ramirez's double.
Los Angeles also got a solid start from left-hander Andrew Heaney, who took a no-decision after allowing just two runs in 5 2/3 innings.
NOTES: Angels manager Mike Scioscia is still waiting to hear what LHP C.J. Wilson will decide to do about his injured left elbow. Wilson, who's on the 15-day disabled list, initially said he would undergo season-ending surgery to remove bone spurs found with an MRI. He had another MRI and met with a doctor Tuesday for a second opinion but hasn't told the Angels what course of action he prefers. ... Scioscia said injured 3B David Freese (broken right index finger) isn't as close to returning as initially thought this week. Freese can hit but is only able to throw at about 60 percent to 70 percent intensity. The Angels don't have enough roster flexibility to bring Freese back as strictly a DH. ... Slumping White Sox DH/1B Adam LaRoche didn't start for the second straight game. ... RHP Nate Jones, who returned to the White Sox's bullpen last week after Tommy John surgery, said he feels good after throwing 1 2/3 innings Monday.