CHICAGO (AP) — Andrew Benintendi hit a leadoff homer in the ninth inning, and the Chicago White Sox stopped a 16-game home losing streak by edging the Oakland Athletics 7-6 on Saturday night.
Benintendi, Luis Robert Jr., Nicky Lopez and Lenyn Sosa each had three hits for Chicago, which had dropped four in a row overall. Lopez finished with three RBIs.
The home slide was a franchise record. At 34-115, the White Sox are hoping to avoid the majors’ post-1900 record for losses — 120 by the 1962 New York Mets in their inaugural season.
Chicago carried a 6-3 lead into the ninth, but Oakland rallied against Justin Anderson. Two runs scored on an error on Sosa at third. Zack Gelof hit a tying RBI single off Gus Varland, but Shea Langeliers was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Zach DeLoach.
Varland (1-0) then escaped the jam by retiring Tyler Soderstrom on a grounder to third before Max Schuemann popped out.
Benintendi then closed it out with his 17th homer, a drive to right on a 1-2 slider from Hogan Harris (4-4).
