(adds quotes, details)
* Jeter reaches 11th on all-time hits list
* Dunn hits Major League-leading 37th homer
Aug 20 (Reuters) – The Chicago White Sox outslugged the
visiting New York Yankees 9-6 to snap a three-game losing streak
and claim the series opener between the division leaders on
Monday.
The White Sox showed they could keep pace with the Bronx
Bombers, bashing three late home runs to get back on track after
a surprise series sweep against the Kansas City Royals.
Trailing 6-5 in the sixth, Gordon Beckham hit the first of
the three decisive blasts to tie the game.
Alexei Ramirez then followed up with a two-run shot in the
seventh and Adam Dunn punctuated the Chicago victory in the next
with his Major League-leading 36th homer of the season.
“Every game is important. What happened in Kansas City, we
have to leave in the past,” Ramirez told reporters. “The race is
so tight, every night is going to be important.”
The win stretched Chicago’s (66-55) American League Central
lead to two games over Detroit, while New York’s (72-50) edge in
the AL East was reduced to four games.
New York came out energised against Chicago and grabbed a
3-0 lead by the second only to fall behind 5-3 in the fifth,
where the White Sox tallied a five-run inning.
But the Yankees regained their advantage in the sixth where
Derek Jeter homered, Mark Teixeira delivered an RBI and the
visitors put up three runs.
A red-hot Jeter, who had three hits on Sunday, finished
four-for-five and tied Eddie Murray for 11th place on the career
hits list (3,255).
Teixeira returned to the lineup after missing three games
with a wrist injury and had two hits and two RBIs.
It was not good enough, though, against Chicago who attacked
New York’s pitching staff.
“The bullpen struggled tonight,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi
told reporters.
“It hasn’t been something they’ve done very often this year,
so they’ll bounce back. You know it’s going to happen at times,
but when it does, it kind of surprises you.”
Reliever Boone Logan gave up the go-ahead two-out homer to
Ramirez in the seventh and took the loss.
Brett Myers pitched in the seventh for the White Sox and
recorded the win.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John
O’Brien/Patrick Johnstona)
