Final/10
  for this game

Rios' HR in 10th lifts White Sox past Halos

Aug 4, 2012 - 6:53 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Alex Rios crushed a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Chicago White Sox a dramatic 8-6 win over the Angels.

A back-and-forth battle between playoff contenders was decided by Rios, who finished with three hits, two home runs and four RBI.

"He's very underestimated, very undervalued for a lot of people," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Rios. "But for us he's been as solid as anybody in the league."

A.J. Pierzynski also hit a three-run homer for the AL Central-leading White Sox, winners in eight of their last 10 contests.

Hisanori Takahashi (0-3) was credited with the loss, the Angels' third straight. Mike Trout and Albert Pujols both homered in defeat.

Zack Greinke, in his second start in an Angels uniform, gave up six runs on 10 hits over seven frames.

The White Sox bullpen threw 4 1/3 shutout innings after starter Philip Humber yielded six runs on 10 hits and four walks.

Matt Thornton (4-6) stranded two in the 10th, and Adam Dunn beat out an infield single on a check swing to start the bottom half.

David Carpenter relieved Takahashi and struck out Paul Konerko before catching too much of the plate on a 1-2 pitch to Rios. Trout tried to time his jump at the wall, but Rios' blast landed in the front row of seats beyond the center field wall to end it.

The Angels played the game under protest because they believed Konerko ran out of the baseline on a potential double-play ball in the first inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Konerko grounded one to third and Alberto Callaspo got the force out at home. Chris Iannetta tried getting Konerko at first, but his throw around the runner pulled Pujols off the bag.

"(Konerko) was inside the line, which it makes it virtually impossible for him not to affect the throw from Iannetta trying to make the throw to first base," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of the play.

Rios followed with a run-scoring base hit and Pierzynski belted a three-run homer to put the White Sox on top, 4-1.

Undetered, the Angels inched closer on Trout's two-out, two-run homer in the second and went ahead in the third when Howie Kendrick and Maicer Izturis each knocked in a run with two outs.

Pujols and Rios traded solo shots in the sixth, and Alejandro De Aza's ground- rule double in the seventh plated Alexei Ramirez to tie things.

Game Notes

This was the start of a nine-game homestand for Chicago, which is a season- high 11 games over .500...De Aza and Ramirez each had three hits...The Angels stranded 12 runners.