Jake Berger home run, White Sox avoid sweep as Athletics 8-7

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Jake Berger hit his 18th home run on Sunday as the Chicago White Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 8-7 to avoid a three-game losing streak.

Zach Remillard added two runs and Eloy Jimenez added two RBIs as the White Sox finished seven games with a 3-4 record.

“We needed that today,” Berger said. “I’m glad the work is done.”

Brent Rooker hit a home run in Oakland time After being selected as an All-Star.

Chicago lost five points in the third inning to Athletics starter Paul Blackburn. Tim Anderson opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly, followed by Jimenez’s first RBI.

With the bases loaded, Gavin Sheets was hit by a pitch for the third run, and Remillard homered two more to make it 5-0.

Blackburn (1 win, 1 loss) gave up 5 runs on 5 innings with 6 hits, 5 strikeouts, and 4 walks.

“I feel like he’s been fighting himself all day,” said A’s manager Mark Cozzie. “He didn’t have the best command. He didn’t hit the curve ball where he wanted it. His changeup wasn’t very effective. It wasn’t easy for him to get through those five innings, but he did. Coming off the mound, we still had a chance to win the game.”

Oakland returned two runs in the bottom of the third on a RBI off Tony Kemp and a bases-loaded walk off Seth Brown.

In the fifth inning, JJ Bledei hit a double to make it 5-3.

In the sixth inning, Andrew Benintendi hit a sacrifice fly, followed by Jimenez’s second RBI. Berger hit a 442-foot home run to center in the seventh inning.

“I’ve been through a situation like this for the past few weeks, so it’s nice to be able to feel myself today,” Berger said. “I felt exactly like myself, the same I was feeling about a month ago.”

Rooker hit a 441-foot two-run homer to center in the eighth inning.

Brady added an RBI double in the ninth inning, followed by an RBI single from Brown to bring the Athletics closer to a one-run lead. But Gregory Santos made Jace Peterson line out to right for his first save of his career.

“We needed every score today,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “It took every at-bat. It took every pitch to get this one.”

Toki Toussaint made his first start in his third appearance for the White Sox, giving up 3 hits and 2 runs in 3 2/3 innings. He had five strikeouts and four walks without a call.

Aaron Bummer (3-1) contributed to the win by allowing 1 run in 2 1/3 innings and striking out 2.

“He saved us today,” Grifol praised. “He had a really good one. He had a slider, a fastball, a sinker. He did a really good job.”

The Athletics were chasing their second sweep of the season, but ended the six-game homestand with a 3-3 record.

brotherly love

Before the game, Army reserve catcher Carlos Perez and his brother of the same name, White Sox reserve catcher Carlos Perez, caught the ceremonial first pitch of the Oakland catcher’s two children, Marcella and Mateo.

first all-star player

Rooker and White Sox forward Louis Robert Jr. were each named to their first All-Star Game. Rooker leads Oakland with 14 homers and 41 RBIs. He has .243 batting average and .816 OPS in 72 games.

Robert ranks second in the American League with 24 home runs. He has appeared in 83 games, leading Chicago with a .912 OPS, .276 batting average and 46 RBIs.

Roster move

White Sox: RHP’s Michael Kopech placed on the 15-day disabled list backdated to June 29 with right shoulder inflammation. Chicago selected RHP Brian Shaw from Triple-A Charlotte and transferred INF Romy Gonzalez (right shoulder) to IL on the 60th.

Athletics: Bring back LHP Richard Lovelady (left elbow strain) from 15-day IL and optionally LHP Kyle Muller to Triple-A Las Vegas.

next

White Sox: RHP Lucas Jolito (6-5, 3.53 ERA) opens Tuesday night’s three-game home game against Toronto. The Blue Jays will face RHP Chris Basitt (8-5, 4.06), who started his career with the White Sox in 2014.

Athletics: LHP’s JP Sears (1-6, 4.43) is looking to end a three-game losing streak Tuesday night as Oakland opened three straight games in Detroit. The Tigers did not announce their starting pitcher.