Major League Baseball

Rollins homers in 9th to lift White Sox past Athletics 5-4

Published Apr. 6, 2016 3:50 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Jimmy Rollins hit a tiebreaking homer off closer Sean Doolittle with two outs in the ninth inning and the Chicago White Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 5-4 on Tuesday night.

A native of the Bay Area who was signed to a minor league deal by the White Sox in February, Rollins connected on a 2-2 pitch from Doolittle (0-1) after Chicago's bullpen blew a two-run lead in the eighth.

Todd Frazier also homered for Chicago, a three-run shot in the fifth. Austin Jackson added an RBI infield single and Adam Eaton had three hits.

The White Sox are 2-0 on the road for the first time since 2011.

Nate Jones (1-0) pitched one inning for the win and David Robertson worked a scoreless ninth for his second save.

Yonder Alonso and Jed Lowrie drove in two runs apiece for the A's. Oakland has lost 13 of its last 18 against Chicago.

Rollins' first home run of the season bailed out Chicago's bullpen after starter Jose Quintana was saddled with the 53rd no-decision of his career, most in the majors since 2012.

Quintana allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts and left with a two-run lead before Oakland rallied for two runs in the eighth off Zach Duke and Jones.

Frazier's home run was also his first in a White Sox uniform.

FLU BUGS A'S

The flu is apparently working its way through the Athletics' clubhouse. Oakland ace Sonny Gray was scratched from his opening day start Monday and sent to the hospital with possible food poisoning, though he now says it might have been a 24-hour flu bug. Fellow starting pitcher Kendall Graveman was also not feeling well and spent the day trying to recover, though he is expected to make his scheduled start on Thursday.

''I've had this Purell hand dispenser in here for years and now everybody doesn't think I'm so crazy,'' Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. ''We had (head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta) address the team and go over what we can try to do to combat that. We're going to do the best we can.''

Chicago manager Robin Ventura said his ballclub dealt with a similar issue in spring training.

TRAINER'S ROOM

White Sox: Chicago has won six straight at the Coliseum. . Ventura needs one win to reach 300 for his career. . Jose Abreu struck out three consecutive times after singling in his first at-bat.

Athletics: Chris Bassitt was drafted by the White Sox in 2011. He gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings. . Liam Hendriks retired all eight batters he faced.

UP NEXT

White Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon, who went 9-6 last season, faces Oakland on Wednesday. The 23-year-old Rodon finished fifth among rookies a year ago with 139 strikeouts.

Athletics: Gray makes his delayed season debut against Chicago. Gray has never defeated the White Sox and has an 8.10 ERA in two starts against them.

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball