Wednesday, May 29, 2002
Yankees 4, White Sox 2
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Long ball or small ball, the New York Yankees find ways to win. Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams sparked an eighth-inning rally with RBI singles, and Rondell White doubled in the go-ahead runs Tuesday night as the Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2.
“We kept scratching and putting everything together,” White said. “We're a team that never gives up. It could be the eighth inning or the ninth inning, and we feel like we've still got a chance to win the ballgame.”
Ted Lilly (2-4) allowed three hits in seven innings for the Yankees, who won their fourth straight to remain a game behind Boston in the AL East. Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save.
Sandy Alomar hit his 100th career home run, but the White Sox managed only two hits after the second inning as they lost their third in a row.
“You can be frustrated, or you can be patient and wait until all the parts start coming together,” White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said. “It's frustrating to get good pitching, like we did tonight, and not have the hitting.”
Hitting hasn't been a problem for the Yankees, who lead the majors with a whopping 84 home runs. But manager Joe Torre said before the game that he didn't want his team to rely on the homer because the long ball won't always be there.
Being able to manufacture runs, that's what makes a championship team. And that's just what the Yankees did in the four-run eighth.
Jon Garland (5-4) appeared to be on his way to duplicating the gem he pitched in Boston last week, when he retired 24 of his first 25 batters. He allowed only two hits through the first six innings against the Yankees, retiring 10 straight in one stretch.
But the Yankees got to him with a four-run eighth. Nick Johnson drew a leadoff walk on four pitches, and Alfonso Soriano followed with a single to left. Jeter then singled just inside the first-base line to score Johnson and chase Garland.
“The walk just killed me,” said Garland, who got a standing ovation as he left the field. “Soriano — I'd gotten to all game — he got a good pitch. And Jeter, he hit a good pitch. There's nothing you can do about that.”
Damaso Marte relieved, bringing a streak of 10 scoreless outings in with him. But he promptly gave up an RBI single to Williams that tied the game at 2.
Two outs later, Marte walked Robin Ventura on a full count to load the bases. He was relieved by Rocky Biddle, but White doubled to center to give the Yankees the 4-2 lead.
“That was a manufactured inning. And we needed it,” Torre said. “We were frustrated, no question. But we give Garland a lot of credit. He didn't do it with mirrors. He did it with good pitching.”
Kelly Wunsch finally got the White Sox out of the inning, getting Johnson on a popup.
Garland gave up three runs and six hits in seven-plus innings, snapping a 15-inning scoreless streak.
“You've got to give him credit,” Williams said. “He pitched a good game and kept us quiet for most of the game.”
Alomar gave the White Sox an early lead, hitting a towering shot to left for a two-run homer in the second. It was his third home run of the season, and gave him 100 in his 13-year career.
The White Sox had a runner in scoring position in the fourth, but Alomar grounded into a double play to end the threat.
“I was in a lot of trouble, but we hung in there,” Lilly said. “We made plays when we had to make them, and it worked out.”
Notes: Ventura, playing his first series at Comiskey since leaving as a free agent in 1998, had his second error in as many nights. ... The Yankees improved to a season-high 17 games above .500. ... RHP Ramiro Mendoza flew home to Panama on Tuesday after his grandmother died. The reliever will return to New York on Thursday, an off day for the Yankees. ... White Sox 3B Jose Valentin missed Tuesday's game with a minor ankle sprain.
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Yankees 4, White Sox 2 
