Leury Garcia hit a walk-off solo home run with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Chicago White Sox over the visiting Boston Red Sox 2-1 in the rubber match of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon.
Garcia’s fifth homer of the season, against Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock (8-4), came after Eloy Jimenez and Yasmani Grandal stuck out back-to-back to open the home ninth.
Luis Robert singled to left field to plate Cesar Hernandez from second base with one out in the sixth for Chicago. The center fielder went 4-for-5 with a three-run double in the White Sox’s 9-8 extra-innings loss Saturday.
Kike Hernandez doubled to lead off the ninth for Boston and later scored on Alex Verdugo’s tying sacrifice fly. Former Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel (4-4) earned the win for the White Sox despite giving up the tying run.
Chicago (82-61) has won two of its last three games after dropping four of its previous six. The White Sox moved 12 games ahead of Cleveland atop the American League Central division standings.
Jose Iglesias (2-for-3) had the only multi-hit day for Boston (81-64), who totaled four hits. Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta gave up one unearned run on three hits while striking out five over 5 1/3 innings in his return from the COVID-19 injured list.
Boston dropped into a tie with Toronto for the top AL wild card spot following the Blues Jays’ 22-7 rout of Baltimore.
Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez missed his third straight game with back spasms.
White Sox starter Lance Lynn tossed five innings of scoreless, two-hit ball with nine strikeouts in his return from the injured list. The All-Star right-hander had been on the IL since Aug. 31 due to right knee inflammation.
Before the game, Red Sox reliever Phillips Valdez became the 12th member of the team to test positive for the virus since Aug. 27.
–Field Level Media