CHICAGO (AP) – Brian Goodwin’s two-run homer in the eighth inning tied the game, and Justin Upton hit a solo shot in the ninth that proved to be the winner as the Los Angeles Angels rallied to beat the Chicago White Sox 5-4 on Friday night, snapping a four-game losing streak.
Chicago led 4-2 with one out in the top of the eighth before reliever Aaron Bummer walked pinch-hitter Taylor Ward. Goodwin followed with a two-run homer that ruined a quality start by White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito. Goodwin had replaced slugger Mike Trout in the fifth inning. Trout left the game with right toe discomfort.
On the first pitch in the ninth inning, Upton hit his 12th homer of the season, off closer Alex Colome (4-3), to give the Angels the lead.
Angels reliever Hansel Robles pitched a perfect final two innings for the win and improved to 5-0.
Luis Rengifo led off the third with his seventh homer of the season for the Angels, who bounced back after blowing a five-run lead in the seventh inning against Oakland on Thursday night.
The White Sox have lost nine of 11.
Tim Anderson, who was 2 for 4, is bidding to become the first White Sox player to win the AL batting title since Frank Thomas in 1997. Anderson entered the game with a one-point lead over DJ LeMahieu. Anderson moved increased his average to .333. LeMahieu was hitless in three at-bats, dropping his average to .329.
Giolito allowed two runs on three hits in seven innings but didn’t figure in the decision. He struck out six and walked one. Giolito has 216 strikeouts this, the third-most in a season for the White Sox behind Chris Sale and Ed Walsh.
Anderson and Yoan Moncada hit back-to-back singles off Angels starter Dillion Peters in the first inning, and Jose Abreu followed with an RBI double. Moncada scored on Eloy Jimenez’s groundout, giving the White Sox a 2-0 lead.
After Peters allowed a leadoff walk to Adam Engel in the fifth, Anderson extended Chicago’s lead to 4-1 with his 16th home run of the season. Anderson watched from just outside the batter’s box as the ball flew over the left-field fence.
Peters allowed four runs on six hits 4 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking three.
Shohei Ohtani tripled and scored in the seventh inning.
The White Sox played without manager Rick Renteria, who had surgery Friday to repair the rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Bench coach Joe McEwing managed in Renteria’s absence. Renteria is expected to miss the series and return Tuesday, when the White Sox host the Royals for a three-game set.
“He’s doing well, he’s doing really well. Everything went according to plan. He’s recovering now. Our thoughts and prayers were there. Making sure everything went well. They took good care of him. He’s coming out of it now and resting well,” McEwing said before the game.
