Chicago White Sox starter Chris Sale was facing some hard luck this season and his unfortunate record fell to 5-4 despite a 2.68 season ERA thanks to Josh Donaldson. The Oakland A’s third baseman entered his at bat in the sixth inning with his team down 3-0 and facing one of the best young pitchers in baseball.
Donaldson also had the luxury of batting with the bases loaded and didn’t disappoint, hitting one over the wall for a go-ahead Grand Slam and eventual game-winner.
Donaldson’s 1-4 night actually lowered his season batting average to .329, but his ninth home run was good enough to give him 41 RBI and A’s starter, Jarrod Parker, his fifth win of the season. Parker, for his part, was solid, throwing seven innings and surrendering just two earned runs on five hits. Sale, however, was dominant until the sixth inning.
Adam Rosales and Jed Lowrie singled to put runners on the corners with one out and Donaldson struck after Yoenis Cespedes loaded the bases via base on balls. Sale gave up just three baserunners the rest of the game combined but took the loss after Ryan Cook and Grant Balfour combined for two scoreless innings to shut the door on the White Sox.
The A’s improve to 38-25 and take over first place by a half game over the Texas Rangers while the White Sox keep reeling, falling to 25-34 on the year with a loss only a few days after a Kyle Seager grand slam tied the game in the 14th inning, a game Chicago eventually won the next inning to snap an eight game losing streak.
