By MATT CARLSON
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Not much has come easy for the New York Yankees over the past two weeks. Not even the wins.
Jordan Montgomery matched his season high with seven solid innings and closer Aroldis Chapman shut down a ninth-inning rally just in time, lifting the Yankees over the Chicago White Sox 6-5 on Monday night.
New York led 6-1 entering the ninth, but Yankees reliever Chasen Shreve gave up a three-run homer to Tim Anderson and Chapman allowed an RBI double to Jose Abreu. Chapman retired Avisail Garcia and Todd Frazier to finish his eighth save and first since returning from the disabled list a week ago.
“The way things have been going, we’ll take it right now,” said Chase Headley, who had three hits and an RBI. “It’s not always pretty, but we had to find a way to win.”
Recently recalled outfielder Tyler Austin lined a solo homer and had a sacrifice fly for New York, which won for the third time in 13 games to keep pace with Boston atop the AL East.
“It was a big-time win for us,” Austin said. “They tried to make a little comeback there in the ninth, but Chappy, as he always does, shut the door.”
Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro returned to the starting lineup after getting a shot in his wrist Saturday, but strained his right hamstring running out a grounder in the third. He was replaced by Rob Refsnyder in bottom of the inning.
Manager Joe Girardi said Castro would get an MRI today. He wouldn’t speculate how long the infielder might be sidelined.
“When I tried to run, I was just feeling something tight,” Castro said.
Austin Romine and Ronald Torreyes each drove in runs with sac flies.
Montgomery improved to 4-0 over his last five starts. The 6-foot-6 left-hander allowed five hits, struck out eight and walked one.
“We’re really happy with what he’s doing,” Girardi said. “He usually gives us pretty good distance and continues to grow as pitcher.”
Austin played in his third game this season since his recall from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.
Frazier hit a solo homer for the only run off Montgomery (6-4). New York took advantage of three Chicago errors to score four unearned runs off starter David Holmberg (1-2).
“Listen, I thought Holmy kept us in the ballgame,” manager Rick Renteria said. “And today was not a very clean ballgame.”
The Yankees activated outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury from the disabled list and put him in center field. Out since May 24 with a concussion, he had a single in five at-bats and scored twice.
