They say redemption comes in unlikely places. For the White Sox, it also came from unlikely sources.
In a wild game of comebacks, blown leads and mammoth home runs, the players struggling the most came through for the Sox (3-4).
Andruw Jones hit two HR's and Mark Teahen delivered the game-winning hit in the 11th inning to salvage a White Sox victory after another shaky start from Jake Peavy.
Down 7-6 going into the 9th inning, Teahen tied the game with his first HR of the season.
After Matt Thornton retired the Blue Jays in order in the 9th and 10th innings, Teahen again came through in the clutch, tripling to deep right-center field and driving in Omar Vizquel. Jenks came in and recorded his second consecutive save, but not without his usual drama. He retired the first two batters he faced before walking two to get to Adam Lind. But Lind struck out swinging on a change-up, securing the White Sox second straight victory.
Coming back home to Toronto for the first time since being claimed off waivers by the White Sox last season, Alex Rios went 3-5 at the plate with a run scored. The Blue Jays faithful weren't kind to their former outfielder, greeting him with boos during batter introductions and every time he recorded an out while playing centerfield.
The Sox, who were a combined 9-28 on turf the past two seasons, won at the Rogers Centre for the first time 11 games. They had been swept by the Blue Jays in four-game sets each of the past two seasons.
The Sox have made a habit out of playing close games this season. This was their fourth straight one-run game and every game since the season opener has been decided by two runs or less.
Peavy struggled from the start, allowing six ER in his first three innings of work. Peavy wouldn't finish the sixth and Randy Williams walked in the seventh run charged to Peavy with a four-pitch walk. It was the most runs Peavy has given up in more than two years.
Still, the White Sox have to be happy with the production they got from the bottom of the order. Rios, Teahen and Jones combined to go 9-14 with 7 RBI and 4 runs scored.
NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS
Alex Rios, Mark Teahen and Juan Pierre each stole bases off of starting pitcher Brian Tallet. Beckham stole a fourth base in the 9th inning. The White Sox stole more than three bases in a game only once last season when they took six bags against the Tigers in the second-to-last game of the year.
John Buck absolutely crushed a Jake Peavy first-pitch fastball in the 2nd inning. Andruw Jones didn't even move a step in LF.
Andruw Jones tied Johnny Bench at 389 on all-time HR list with his first HR of the game. And moved past Bench after his HR in the sixth inning.
Toronto 2B Aaron Hill was placed on the disabled list and will miss the rest of the series.
The White Sox remained undefeated (3-0) when hitting multiple HR's in a game and won their second straight one-run game.
Matt Thornton once again looked unhittable, retiring all six batters he faced, including four on strikeouts.
CHECK OUT MY WHITE SOX BLOG at http://rossjacobson.blogspot.com
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