Athletics 2 - 3 White Sox
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Lillibridge makes saving catch as ChiSox edge A's

Jun 12, 2011 - 4:34 AM

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Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Brent Lillibridge made a home run saving catch in the eighth inning and John Danks pitched into the eighth to help the Chicago White Sox take a 3-2 win over the Oakland Athletics in the third portion of a four-game set.

Danks (2-8) won his second straight outing after going 0-8 in his first 11 starts of the season. On Saturday, he went 7 2/3 innings and was charged with four hits and two walks along with four strikeouts for the White Sox, who have won four of six. Ramon Castro hit a solo home run in the win.

Gio Gonzalez (5-5) dropped his third straight start as he was touched for all three runs on five hits with seven walks and two strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings for the Athletics, whose win on Friday snapped a 10-game losing streak. Hideki Matsui and Josh Willingham each drove in a run in the loss.

"He didn't have his best command but he certianly battled out there tonight," said Oakland manager Bob Melvin about Gonzalez. "He made pitches when he had to."

In the eighth inning with Chicago holding a 3-2 lead and a man on second, Coco Crisp belted the ball to deep left-center. Lillibridge went back to the wall and stretched his glove over it to prevent the go-ahead hit.

"Obviously it was a great play, but when I see it on the replay it's even better," said Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen. "He saved me a bottle of vodka on that play cause I don't need to drink tonight."

Danks was pulled after that and Jesse Crain got Cliff Pennington to pop out.

Crain stayed on for the ninth and gave up a leadoff walk to Matsui, but then set down the next three batters for his first save.

The third inning saw Chicago take a 1-0 lead as a wild pitch scored Alexei Ramirez, who hit a one-out single, moved to second on a balk and took third on a double steal with Carlos Quentin.

The A's tied the game in the fourth when Pennington led off with a single, stole second and came home when Willingham punched a single to left.

Castro led off the home fourth with his third homer of the year for a 2-1 lead.

Oakland again tied the game in the sixth. Crisp doubled, moved to third on a Pennington sacrifice bunt and crossed the plate on a Matsui sacrifice fly.

The bottom of the sixth saw the White Sox take the lead for good. With one out, Lillibridge walked and stole second and moved to third on Kurt Suzuki's errant throw.

After Brad Ziegler took the mound and walked Ramirez, Lillibridge scored as Quentin hit a ball back to the mound that saw a poor throw from Ziegler to second give the White Sox a 3-2 lead.

Game Notes

Chicago has now won five of the nine games against Oakland...Gonzalez fell to 0-4 in his career against Chicago...Danks moved to 5-1 against the A's...Philip Humber takes the mound for Chicago in Sunday's finale while Guillermo Moscoso will start for Oakland.






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