ChiSox squeak by Jays thanks to Alvarez gaffe
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Alejandro De Aza scored the go-ahead run on a botched pick-off attempt during a three-run fifth inning, helping the Chicago White Sox best the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-2, in the second edition of a four- game series.
De Aza and Dewayne Wise drove in a run each for the AL Central leaders, who rebounded from an extra-inning loss in Monday's opener to win for the third time in five games overall.
"I was just happy we pieced it together without actually hitting a home run," noted White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "That's pretty nice. It was also a good game for our defense, just a big win."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jose Quintana (5-2) allowed eight hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings to snap a five-start winless skid. Addison Reed recorded the final four outs for his 21st save.
Rajai Davis collected three hits, while Yunel Escobar and Mike McCoy knocked in a run apiece for the Blue Jays, who have dropped six of their last eight.
Henderson Alvarez (7-10) worked seven full frames in defeat, charged with seven hits and three runs as well as the key gaffe which sent the visitors to victory.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chicago erased a 2-0 deficit with three runs in the fifth. A.J. Pierzynski led off with a base hit, then moved to second on Dayan Viciedo's one-out single. Two batters later, De Aza singled home a run, then Wise followed with the game-tying single, leaving men on the corners.
Alvarez then threw high and wide on a pickoff attempt of Wise at first base, and De Aza scored easily as the ball rolled away from first baseman David Cooper, for a 3-2 game.
Quintana then worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the home half, inducing an inning-ending double-play line out from Edwin Encarnacion, whose scorcher was gloved by Kevin Youkilis at third and Davis was doubled off second.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Youkilis just makes a hell of a play, and Rajai is a little aggressive at second base there and gets doubled up," said Blue Jays manager John Farrell. "As it turns out, both sides of the fifth inning were the difference."
Brett Myers subbed for the Sox starter with two down in the seventh and runners on first and second. He got Encarnacion on a fly to center to end the threat.
Matt Thornton allowed a Cooper leadoff double in the eighth, then Reed entered only to see pinch-runner Anthony Gose swipe third with two down. Pinch-hitter Yan Gomes fanned, then Reed worked around a one-out single in the ninth to close out the contest.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Toronto picked up single runs in the first and third as Escobar singled home McCoy in the former and McCoy's groundout plated Davis in the latter frame.
Game Notes
Chicago earned its first victory in Toronto since May 26, 2011, snapping a four-game skid ... Prior to the game, the White Sox agreed to terms on a minor league deal with infielder Jose Lopez ... Toronto inked catcher Jeff Mathis to a two-year extension with a club option for a third ... TV and movie actor Charlie Sheen threw out the first pitch ... Pierzynski extended his hit streak to 15 games.