Mariners 4 - 7 White Sox
Final
  for this game

White Sox hold off Mariners

Jun 2, 2012 - 5:09 AM

Video

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Alexei Ramirez's RBI single and an Alejandro De Aza two-run base hit in the eighth inning helped the Chicago White Sox take a 7-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners in the opener of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.

Gordon Beckham hit two home runs while Adam Dunn also homered for Chicago, which stretched its winning streak up to nine games for the first time since July 4-15, 2010.

"We just kind of take it day-by-day and just try to play as good as we can that day," Dunn said about his team's win streak.

Jesse Crain (1-0) recorded the final two outs in the eighth to pick up the win. Addison Reed tossed a scoreless ninth for his seventh save of the year.

Kyle Seager had a two-run shot and knocked in three runs for the Mariners, who lost for the sixth time in eight games.

Shawn Kelley (0-2) allowed three unearned runs on two hits while walking two in an inning of relief to take the loss.

Jake Peavy started the game for Chicago and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks over 6 1/3 innings, while Felix Hernandez gave up four runs on five hits and four walks in a five-inning start for the Mariners.

The Mariners entered the eighth inning trailing, 4-2, but were able to tie the game after Ichiro Suzuki singled, stole second and came home on a base hit by Seager in the eighth. Dustin Ackley, who worked a walk after Suzuki's single, moved to third on Seager's hit and later crossed the plate on a Justin Smoak two-out single to make it a 4-4 game.

"It was good for us to get a couple of runs there, battle back and give ourselves a chance," Seager said about the eighth inning.

But the tie was shortlived as Paul Konerko led off the bottom of the eighth with a fly ball to center field that Michael Saunders had deflect off his glove and then hit him in the face before falling to the ground, allowing Konerko to reach second on the error.

Konerko then advanced to third on an Alex Rios grounder to the mound before coming home on Ramirez's two-out infield single.

After Orlando Hudson walked to load the bases, De Aza sent a base hit to left field, scoring A.J. Pierzynski, who was intentionally walked earlier in the frame, and Ramirez for a 7-4 Chicago lead.

Reed took the mound for the White Sox in the ninth and allowed a leadoff double to Miguel Olivo, but that would be it as he retired the next three batters to seal the win for Chicago.

After Seattle left a man on second in the top of the first inning, the White Sox went ahead in the bottom of the frame when Beckham pulled a ball over the left field wall for a 2-0 advantage.

De Aza was hit by a pitch prior to Beckham's sixth home run of the year.

Chicago left the bases loaded the third inning but was able to add to its lead in the fifth on back-to-back two-out homers by Beckham and Dunn, giving Chicago a 4-0 edge.

Seattle could only manage one hit against Peavy -- a Smoak leadoff single in the fifth inning -- before finally breaking through in the seventh when Ackley led off with a double before Seager's blast over the right-center field wall brought them within 4-2.

Game Notes

Seattle went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base...The White Sox hit 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven. Chicago leads the all-time series between the teams, 216-183.






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