It took 13 innings, but the Chicago White Sox defeated the New York Mets by a final score of 2-1. In a game in which the White Sox staff gave up 13 walks, it was reliever Matt Albers who scored the game-winning run in the top of the 13th inning.
Albers comes through in the clutch
Albers came in to pinch hit for David Robertson and led off in the 13th inning. With the count at 2-2, Albers whacked a double to center field, finding the gap between the left and center fielder, and watched it roll to the wall. This became the first extra base hit for a White Sox reliever since 2005. Logan Verrett threw a rare wild-pitch which moved Albers 90 feet from home plate. On the sixth pitch of the at bat, Jose Abreu hit a ball deep enough to center field to bring in the winning run.
The Mets had multiple chances though to break the game open many times throughout the afternoon. Miguel González got himself into trouble in the first inning of the game. He walked Curtis Granderson on four pitches. Then, Asdrubal Cabrera smacked a single to right which allowed the speedy Granderson to reach third. Michael Conforto, who has been in a little slump, struck out swinging and Neil Walker grounded into a double play to end inning. González flirted with disaster but managed to pitch efficiently to keep the Mets at the corners.
In the second, González allowed another leadoff walk as James Loney got a free pass. Loney would move to second base after a sacrifice bunt from Juan Lugares. González would not be able to get out of trouble unscathed this time. Rene Rivera found the whole up the middle and brought home Loney to take the 1-0 lead.
The White Sox starter continued to get out of trouble. González walked the first batter in the fourth and fifth innings but got out of both jams with double plays. Lugares jogged to first after seeing five pitches. Fortunately, Ty Kelly hit a grounder to Brett Lawrie turned a double play with Tyler Saladino. After Jacob deGrom led off the fifth with a walk, Granderson slapped a ball to Todd Frazier who went around the diamond to complete this double play.
One mistake costs deGrom the game
Meanwhile, Jacob deGrom was cruising. The 27-year-old located his stuff with pin-point accuracy. Through the first six innings of the game he had eight strikeouts and allowed only three hits, all singles. He also gave up only one walk.
But in the top of the seventh inning, one swing of the bat would tie the game at one. Todd Frazier connected on an 83-mph changeup left in the zone. That home run Frazier hit was his league-leading 17th home run of the season.
Coming up
The Chicago White Sox continue their road trip after a day off on Thursday when they begin a three-game set with the Detroit Tigers. On the other hand, the New York Mets begin a long road trip starting in Miami against the Marlins.