SEATTLE — The Chicago White Sox were hitless through five innings on Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners.
After eight innings, they had just two hits — and one of them was an infield single.
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But the team stuck with it and rallied for two runs in the ninth for a stunning 2-1 victory in front of 28,837 at T-Mobile Park.
“Never out of it,” Sox designated hitter Andrew Benintendi said. “We kind of got dominated all night. Felt like it, at least. We weren’t really barreling anything up. To come out with a win, it kind of feels like we stole one.”
Chase Meidroth tied the score with an RBI single to right field. Benintendi put the Sox ahead with a run-scoring infield single on a ball that deflected off the glove of diving first baseman Josh Naylor.
Reliever Grant Taylor struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to wrap up a combined one-hitter for the Sox (25-23) in the win.
“I think it makes all the difference, to be able to continue to compete, have good energy, just have the belief that you have a chance,” manager Will Venable said. “I think that the pitchers have that mindset and feel that from our position players, and they just feed off each other’s energy and you just have a competitive club that just doesn’t quit.”
Sox starter Anthony Kay rebounded after a bumpy first inning, allowing just one run on one hit in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five, walked three and hit two batters in the 89-pitch outing.
“We kind of just eliminated the sweeper — I wasn’t really able to land that for a strike today — so I think after the second inning, we kind of just got rid of that,” Kay said. “We thought it was a good idea to just get rid of that, and we went to a four-seam, two-seam, cutter and just led to some quick outs and thankfully I was able to get through the five.”
The one hit came in the first, a single by Julio Rodríguez, who scored later in the inning on a fielder’s choice.
Tyler Davis pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings, striking out four and walking one. Bryan Hudson struck out one while retiring the side in order in the eighth. And after the rally in the top of the ninth, Taylor blazed through the three batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth for his first save of the season.
“Bullpen was awesome tonight,” Kay said. “They’ve been doing a really good job all year, and it’s fun to have those guys behind you knowing that when your job’s done that they’re going to pick you up and keep it going.”
The Sox kept grinding offensively after not getting anything going early. Mariners starter Bryce Miller allowed one hit, walked one and struck out seven in 5 2/3 scoreless innings. The Sox didn’t have a hit until Tristan Peters doubled leading off the sixth. Jarred Kelenic reached on an infield single in the eighth, but pinch runner Luisangel Acuña was eventually stranded on second.
The team made the most of their chances in the ninth.
Munetaka Murakami walked and was lifted for pinch runner Derek Hill. Miguel Vargas got hit by a pitch. Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo struck out Colson Montgomery before being replaced by closer Andrés Muñoz.
With Meidroth up, the Sox successfully executed a double steal to place runners on second and third with one out.
“Huge play,” Venable said. “With Chase up there, you know you’ve got a good chance to get that run in if we’re able to get to third base. That’s why Hill’s in the game. He’s obviously got a ton of speed. Stealing bases is part of his game, which is why a win like this feels special, just because everyone contributes — guys coming off the bench, pitchers coming in from the bullpen, doing their job.”
The Mariners brought the infield in and Meidroth singled to right field, bringing in Hill with the tying run.
Vargas went to third on the single and Meidroth took second on the throw to the plate. Benintendi came up with runners on second and third and the infield in again.
His mind was on getting something in the air for at the very least a sacrifice fly.
“I was trying to get something early in the count and it happened to be the first pitch he left a slider up,” Benintendi said. “And actually didn’t do exactly what I wanted with it, but we’ll take it.”
Benintendi hit a grounder that Naylor couldn’t corral and Vargas scored what turned out to be the game-winning run.
“Just the competitive spirit of the group,” Venable said. “I mean, we were getting no-hit through five innings, and you wouldn’t know it by the energy on our bench. So just an awesome job by everybody.”
Sox acquire left-hander Joe Rock from Tampa BayThe Sox acquired left-handed pitcher Joe Rock from the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday evening in exchange for infielder Oliver Dunn.
The Sox optioned Rock to Triple-A Charlotte. To make room for Rock on the 40-man roster, the Sox transferred catcher Kyle Teel to the 60-day injured list.
Rock, 25, went 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 15 innings during 13 relief appearances this season with Triple-A Durham. He had a 2.35 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings over three relief outings last season with the Rays.
Dunn, 28, slashed .295/.393/.545 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs in 41 games this season with Charlotte.