Pierzynski clutch for White Sox in win over Indians
9/1/2010CLEVELAND - With Manny Ramirez standing in the on-deck circle ready to pinch-hit, A.J. Pierzynski connected for a tiebreaking, three-run homer off Frank Herrmann in the ninth inning to lift the Chicago White Sox to a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Indians Tuesday night.
Ramirez, who arrived earlier in the day to help Chicago's playoff push, was poised to make his White Sox debut and bat for Brent Lillibridge before Pierzynski came through.
He drove an 0-1 pitch over the wall in right field, and as he rounded the bases, Ramirez retreated to Chicago's dugout, where the fun-loving slugger celebrated his new teammate's heroics by high-fiving the rest of the White Sox as if he was the one who had homered.
Edwin Jackson (3-0) struck out 10 and allowed seven hits in 8 2-3 innings as the White Sox kept the pressure on first-place Minnesota in the AL Central. Jackson gave up Shelley Duncan's leadoff homer in the seventh, and appeared on his way to a complete game before the Indians rallied for two runs in the ninth.
The right-hander gave up a pair of one-out singles, but manager Ozzie Guillen stuck with him - one batter too long. Jason Donald hit a two-run single and Guillen lifted Jackson to bring in closer Bobby Jenks, who had blown three saves in his last seven tries.
Jenks gave up a single to pinch-hitter Matt LaPorta before retiring Michael Brantley on a comebacker for his 25th save.