Freddy Sanchez homered leading off the ninth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates ended a club-record 13-game losing streak by beating the Chicago White Sox 7-6 in interleague play on Thursday.
The Pirates stopped their longest skid in the modern era (since 1900) and the second-longest in franchise history to a 23-game slide in 1890 -- when the city's National League team was known as the Pittsburgh Alleghenies.
They led 6-4 in the eighth before pinch-hitter Jim Thome tied it with his 25th homer, a two-run drive off Roberto Hernandez that bounced into the Allegheny River.
But Mike Gonzalez (2-3) pitched out of a two-on, two-out jam in the ninth by striking out former teammate Rob Mackowiak. Sanchez then hit an 0-1 pitch from Cliff Politte (1-2) into the left-field seats for his fourth hit of the game.
The Pirates couldn't halt Jose Contreras' White Sox-record 16-game winning streak despite getting six runs and 12 hits off him in 5 1-3 innings.
Athletics 6, Padres 5, 14 innings
At San Diego, pinch-hitter Antonio Perez drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the 14th inning, and Oakland edged San Diego to avoid a three-game sweep in a matchup of the top two teams out West.
After Athletics closer Huston Street squandered a two-run lead in the ninth, Oakland rallied against Scott Cassidy (4-4) without getting a hit. They had three walks, including one intentional, a hit batsman and a sacrifice.
Perez, hitting .082, was walked by Cassidy, bringing in Marco Scutaro, who drew a leadoff walk.
Ron Flores (1-1) held San Diego to one hit in four innings for the win.
Chad Gaudin pitched the 14th for his second save.
Josh Bard hit a two-run single off Street with two outs in the ninth to tie the score at 5. It was Street's second consecutive blown save and sixth this season.
Giants 2, Rangers 1
At San Francisco, Omar Vizquel's go-ahead single with two outs in the eighth inning sent San Francisco to a victory over Texas, completing a three-game sweep.
Jason Ellison hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the Giants' first run and scored on Vizquel's single off Francisco Cordero. Scott Feldman (0-2) allowed Ellison's leadoff walk.
Red Sox 4, Mets 2
At Boston, Coco Crisp made a spectacular, diving catch in the eighth inning to preserve Curt Schilling's 10th win and Boston stretched its winning streak to 12 games with a victory over the New York Mets.
In other interleague games it was:
* Phillies 4, Orioles 0
* Blue Jays 8, Nationals 4
* Reds 6, Royals 5
* Mariners 3, Diamondbacks 2
RSS