By JOHN JACKSON
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Jose Abreu got another chance in a key spot for the Chicago White Sox. This time, he delivered.
Abreu hit a game-ending, two-run single off Dellin Betances, and the White Sox stopped a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.
Abreu also had an RBI double in the third. The big first baseman batted with the bases loaded in the eighth inning and struck out.
“After that at-bat when I struck out, I was thinking, ‘God, give me one more opportunity, one more opportunity to do my job,’” Abreu said through a translator. “I’m glad that I got that opportunity because I was able to help my team win the game.”
Kevan Smith sparked the winning rally with a one-out walk. Betances (3-2) then walked Alen Hanson and hit Yolmer Sanchez, loading the bases.
After Melky Cabrera fouled out, Abreu hit a grounder into left field. Brett Gardner’s throw to the plate was high, and Hanson scored easily.
Dan Jennings (3-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win.
New York wasted an outstanding start by Luis Severino, who struck out a career-high 12 while pitching seven innings of one-run ball. It has dropped three of four and 11 of 14 overall.
“They all sting,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi. “I mean, we put ourselves in a position to win. We just gave too many free baserunners in the last two innings.”
The Yankees trailed 1-0 before Aaron Judge hit an RBI single in the eighth. Gary Sanchez then hit a two-run double, making it 3-1 New York.
But the Yankees’ bullpen faltered again after nearly losing a five-run lead in the ninth inning of Monday night’s 6-5 win. Domingo German walked the only two batters he faced in the eighth, and Tyler Clippard walked Todd Frazier with two out and the bases loaded to force home a run.
Clippard then struck out Matt Davidson to end the inning, sending New York to the ninth with a 3-2 lead.
“Borderline calls, man, it was kind of a tight zone,” Clippard said. “Not to say that [plate umpire Joe West] missed a bunch, but they were calls that could have gone either way, and we didn’t really get any of ‘em.”
Chicago manager Rick Renteria credited his players for being selective.
“That was an interesting two innings,” he said. “The guys ended up working at-bats.”
Jose Quintana pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings for the White Sox, allowing two hits. He struck out six and walked four.
In five June starts, Quintana is 2-1 with a 1.78 ERA.
