CHICAGO (MCT) — Usually mild-mannered Gavin Floyd slammed and kicked a few objects in the U.S. Cellular Field dugout after being pulled following a 21/3-inning stint Monday night.
But that was just the start of an emotional ride for the White Sox, who were baffled for the first four innings by Freddy Garcia but overcame two deficits to seize a 9-6 victory over the Yankees. They snapped a three-game losing streak and extended their lead to two games over the Tigers in the American League Central.
Alexei Ramirez snapped a 6-6 tie with a two-run homer off left-hander Boone Logan with two outs in the seventh, and Adam Dunn hit a solo shot off Derek Lowe in the eighth.
“I wasn’t looking for anything,” Ramirez said. “It was a 3-2 count. I swung on what I thought was a strike and it just happened that way.”
Dunn’s homer was his 36th, the second-most in a season by a Sox left-handed hitter. Jim Thome hit 42 in 2006.
The Sox relied on their power to overcome a 3-0 deficit after four innings against Garcia, who tied his season high with eight strikeouts.
Dewayne Wise, who was designated for assignment by the Yankees on July 23, sparked a five-run rally with a two-run homer in the fifth.
“I don’t think too many people can leave one team in first place and come to another,” Wise said. “I’m pretty blessed and glad to be here.”
After Derek Jeter hit a solo home run to fuel a three-run rally off Hector Santiago in the top of the sixth, Gordon Beckham countered with an opposite-field homer to right off Joba Chamberlain that tied the game at 6-6.
The Sox’s sense of urgency was evident from the top of the first, when Philip Humber warmed up while Floyd was struggling through a 33-pitch inning. Relievers Donnie Veal, Brett Myers, Matt Thornton and Addison Reed combined to hold the Yankees scoreless over the final 32/3 innings.
Floyd allowed four of the first five batters to reach base, and only an impressive stop by Beckham at second prevented the Yankees from scoring more than two runs in the first.
After two outs in the second, Floyd’s troubles resurfaced when he allowed two hits and a walk that set up an RBI single by Curtis Granderson.
The damage would have been greater, but right fielder Alex Rios made an accurate throw home to nail Robinson Cano for the final out of the inning.
Floyd showed his emotion after issuing his fourth walk to Raul Ibanez with one out in the third.
Santiago, who was sent to Triple-A Charlotte three weeks ago to build his endurance as a starter and polish his screwball, relieved Floyd and didn’t allow a run until Jeter hit his home run to highlight a four-hit performance.
The homer resulted in the 1,845th run scored by Jeter, moving him ahead of Craig Biggio for 13th place on the all-time list.
Jeter’s four hits tied him with Eddie Murray for 11th place on the all-time list with 3,255 hits.
