White Sox 7 - 5 Mariners
Final/16
  for this game

White Sox best Mariners in wild 16-inning thriller

Jun 6, 2013 - 5:09 AM Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - In one of the more bizarre baseball games of the season -- and perhaps all-time -- Alejandro De Aza drove home the go-ahead run in the top of 16th inning and the Chicago White Sox outlasted the Seattle Mariners, 7-5, Wednesday at Safeco Field.

It was a contest that saw neither team score a run for the first 13 innings, then each plate five apiece in the 14th to keep a contest going that eventually lasted 5 hours and 42 minutes.

White Sox closer Addison Reed (2-0) gave up a game-tying grand slam to Kyle Seager in the bottom of the 14th, but struck out the side in his third inning of work to end the marathon -- as well as Chicago's eight-game losing streak.

Alex Rios went 4-for-8, and his second RBI of the day gave the White Sox an insurance run in their final turn at bat. He also helped turn one of six double plays for Chicago.

Hector Noesi (0-1) helped Seattle work out of two jams, but ran out of gas in his third inning of work. He was charged with three runs on seven hits and three walks.

The elongated affair saw the White Sox take the lead for good after Gordon Beckham stole second base following his leadoff single in the 16th. De Aza drove a one-out single to center to plate the go-ahead run, and then came around himself on Rios' infield hit.

The Mariners would not rally this time, like they miraculously did in the 14th, but had plenty of chances earlier. The finished 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position, and were unable to provide any support for starter Hishashi Iwakuma, who tossed an eight-inning, three-hit gem in a no decision.

The two teams failed to score a run and were a combined 0-for-16 with runners in scoring position through the first 13 innings, however, the White Sox finally changed that in the 14th.

De Aza drew a lead off walk, advanced to third on a single from Alexei Ramirez and scored the first run of the game when Rios belted a single to center off Danny Farquhar.

The White Sox looked to put the wraps on the contest when they loaded the bases and preceded to knock four more runs home on a run-scoring single from Casper Wells, a two-run base hit by Jeff Keppinger and an RBI double from Hector Gimenez.

However, the five-run burst proved not to be enough. The Mariners reached with four consecutive one-out singles and Endy Chavez pushed a run across with his hit. After Jason Bay struck out with the bases loaded, it was up to Seager.

Down to his last strike, Seager belted a breaking pitch from Reed into the seats in right center, becoming the first player in history to hit a game- tying grand slam in extras, and the contest went to a 15th inning tied at 5-5.

"I knew it was out, but I had to double-check and count the guys crossing home plate. It wasn't good," said White Sox bench coach Mark Parent. "He put a good swing on it. That kid's a good hitter."

No game in major league history prior had ever seen each team score at least five runs after both being held scoreless for nine innings.

"We talk about you'll never be able to figure this game out. That's a great example," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said.

Reed would redeem himself, however, as he went on to finish the game after the White Sox plated the two runs in the 16th.

Kendrys Morales had three hits for Seattle and made a spectacular bobbling catch in foul territory in the eighth to help Iwakuma retire his 16th batter in a row.

The right-handed Japanese hurler hasn't been handed a loss in his last eight starts and hasn't given up a run in his last 21 2/3 innings of work.

Seager finished 3-for-5 and nearly put a run on the board in the fourth. He doubled that inning, but was denied from scoring when Rios gunned him out at the plate to end the frame.

Game Notes

The two teams played a game on August 12th, 2009 that also went scoreless for 13 innings, a game the Mariners would win, 1-0, in the 14th on a walkoff hit from Ken Griffey Jr. ... White Sox starter Dylan Axelrod pitched 5 1/3 scoreless frames, but walked five batters ... The Mariners will host a four- game set with the New York Yankees starting on Thursday ... The White Sox ended a nine-game losing streak on the road and avoided a third straight series sweep ... Chicago went 6-for-19 with RISP.






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