NEW YORK — Brent Lillibridge might be considered the 25th man on the White Sox roster, but he became as valuable Tuesday night as anyone who contributed to a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Yankees
“I think I finally found my closer — Lillibridge,” manager Ozzie Guillen joked after Lillibridge made two consecutive amazing catches to rob Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano of at least game-tying hits to end the game and give the Sox consecutive victories for the first time since April 9-10.
Lillibridge, who entered the game as a pinch runner for Carlos Quentin, scored the tying run on Paul Konerko’s two-run homer off Rafael Soriano in the eighth inning. But his biggest contribution came after the Yankees had put the tying and winning runs on base against Gavin Floyd (3-2) and Matt Thornton.
Sergio Santos, in his second save opportunity, watched Rodriguez rip an opposite-field drive to the right field wall. But Lillibridge, who proved to Guillen and the coaching staff in spring training that he was a capable outfielder after playing the infield for most of his professional career, caught up to Rodriguez’s drive.
On the next play, Cano hit a drive that tailed down the right field line. But Lillibridge sprinted to make a diving catch and ignite a mixture of jubilation and relief.
“I got a good read on it, but the biggest thing in my head was if there was a close play I have a chance for, I’m going for it,” Lillibridge said. “We have to have that attitude. It has been rough for us, so I said all or nothing. I could have been the goat.”
Instead, Lillibridge has become a more serviceable player since joining the Sox before the 2009 season. Monday night, he stole second base and scored an insurance run in a 2-0 victory over the Yankees.
“When Alex hit the first one, I said ‘Here we go again,'” Guillen said. “The last guy I wanted to see in that situation was Cano.”
Rodriguez told reporters he thought his drive was going to result in a double that at least would have scored Derek Jeter, who started the rally with an infield hit off Floyd. Mark Teixeira then drew a walk against Thornton and Guillen called for Santos.
Floyd, the last opposing pitcher to win at the old Yankee Stadium in 2008, relied on a sharp breaking curve to strike out 10.
“I think that’s the best I’ve seen him throw in a little while,” Guillen said.
Konerko’s homer was the Sox’s first with a runner on base since Adam Dunn hit a two-run homer off Jered Weaver of the Angels on April 15.
Twitter @MDGonzales
