White Sox Save Their Best for Last Again

Ozzie Guillen’s first month as a major league manager has given him reason to fidget. The Chicago White Sox’s early-season success has been anything but a breeze.

The White Sox rallied for five runs in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday, beating the Cleveland Indians, 9-8, on Sandy Alomar’s sacrifice fly at Chicago.

It marked the third time the White Sox have overcome a ninth-inning deficit to win, and five of their seven home wins this season have come in their final at-bat.

Chicago is 7-1 in one-run games.

“A win is a win, but I wish we would win one easy before this thing is over,” Guillen said.

Chicago trailed, 8-2, after six innings. Still down 8-4, the White Sox then stormed back -- it was the first time they had overcome a four-run deficit to win in the bottom of the ninth since June 4, 1988.

Juan Uribe led off with a single, and Magglio Ordonez followed with a home run against David Riske. One out later, Carlos Lee doubled, and Rafael Betancourt (2-3) relieved. Ben Broussard -- a defensive replacement in the ninth -- dropped Paul Konerko’s towering popup for an error.

Joe Crede and Timo Perez followed with run-scoring singles to tie it at eight.

Mike Jackson (1-0) earned the victory with two hitless innings of relief.

New York 5, Oakland 1 -- Jose Contreras earned his first win of the season, Jorge Posada and Jason Giambi homered, and the Yankees sent the Athletics to their fifth consecutive loss with a victory at New York. Derek Jeter’s hitless skid reached 32 at-bats. Contreras pitched six effective innings, yielding only Bobby Crosby’s home run in the Yankees’ second victory in a row.

Boston 6, Tampa Bay 0 -- Curt Schilling pitched his best game with the Red Sox, and Jason Varitek hit a two-run homer at Boston to lead the Red Sox to their fourth consecutive victory.

Schilling (3-1) struck out eight, walked none and gave up five hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Baltimore 3, Seattle 1 -- Jay Gibbons’ two-run single broke an eighth-inning tie at Baltimore to help the Orioles end a three-game skid.

Minnesota 9, Toronto 5 -- Pinch-hitter Michael Ryan singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to help the Twins win at Minneapolis. Juan Rincon (4-0) retired one batter in the eighth for his second win in as many nights.

Kansas City 5, Texas 3 -- Ken Harvey hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the fifth inning, one pitch after just missing a home run, to lead the Royals at Kansas City, Mo.