• Recap
• Bleachers

Pierzynski leads White Sox to win

May 7, 2007 - 12:16 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- A.J. Pierzynski put in a full day's work on what was supposed his day off.

Pierzynski tied the game with his first career pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning and drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th as the Chicago White Sox took a three-game series from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with a 4-3 win on Sunday.

Pierzynski broke out of a 1-for-11 slump in a big way, and it came at a good time for Chicago, which had lost five of seven and came into the game hitting a major league-worst .222 as team

"Today just happened to be one of those days where I was able to come off the bench and make a positive contribution," Pierzynski said.

While the Angels lost their first game when leading after seven innings, they were given a huge scare in the eighth when righthander Bartolo Colon, who made just three starts last year due to a torn rotator cuff, left with a right triceps injury.

The former Cy Young Award winner was looking to improve to 4-0 for the first time in his career. He retired 16 of the first 18 batters he faced and threw 60 of 87 pitches for strikes but was relieved by Scot Shields after allowing a leadoff double to Joe Crede and a single to Alex Cintron.

After the game, Colon said the injury will not prevent him from making his next start.

"I had the feeling early on in the game, but it tightened up more and more as the game went on," Colon said. "I'm not really worried about it. The extra day off this week should give me a very good chance at making my next start."

Colon allowed two runs and five hits in seven-plus innings. He struck out two without a walk.

Anaheim's Robb Quinlan doubled home a run in the fourth and hit his first homer of the year in the sixth.

However, the White Sox tied the game against Shields. Ryan Sweeney's force play plated Crede and Pierzynski hit an 0-1 fastball over the right field fence for the tying runs. As Pierzynski rounded third he lifted his helmet for the booing crowd.

"It makes you happy when you hit a home run and the crowd is booing you. It definitely gets you a little excited," Pierzynski said.

"A.J. is really starting to see the ball better and that home run was huge," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He provided fuel for the team, and more importantly, put us in a position to win."

In the 10th, Sweeney and Pierzynski combined to give the White Sox the lead. Sweeney hit a two-out double off closer Francisco Rodriguez (0-2) down the right field line.

"I was finally able to get the barrel on the ball today," Sweeney said. "I wanted to get on base and see what we could make of it."

Pierzynski followed with a bloop single that fell just inside the line behind third base to plate Sweeney.

The Angels, who have lost four of five, threatened in the ninth. Chone Figgins walked and was forced at second by Orlando Cabrera. Vladimir Guerrero singled, but Matt Thornton (2-1) relieved Mike MacDougal and got two groundouts to end the inning.

"We're fine, it's no time to panic," Quinlan said. "It's early in the season and these things are going to happen. We have an off day tomorrow and we'll be ready to play come Tuesday."

Bobby Jenks struck out the first hitter, then alllowed a one-out walk and a single before striking out the final two for his 10th save.