New York: Martin Prado hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting the New York Yankees to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
Facing a full-count pitch from Daniel Webb (5-4) with the bases loaded, Prado lined a hit up the middle to complete the Yankees’ comeback from three runs for their fourth win in 11 games.
Prado hit a two-run homer in the third, and Jacoby Ellsbury had an RBI double in the fifth off John Danks after Chicago’s Jose Abreu connected for a three-run shot in the first against Shane Greene.
Ichiro Suzuki started the ninth with a single and advanced on a sacrifice. After Derek Jeter lined out, Webb intentionally walked Ellsbury and walked Mark Teixeira before Prado’s hit touched off a celebration near second base.
David Robertson (2-4) struck out two in a perfect ninth. Chicago (59-69) fell a season-high 10 games under .500.
After saying Cuban ballplayers admired the Yankees growing up because of their success, Abreu impressed New York with his 33rd homer in the first at-bat of his career at Yankee Stadium.
Two innings later, Danks gave up Prado’s long ball, his AL-leading 24th homer given up. The right-hander allowed three runs, upping his total to a league-high 87, in five-plus innings.
Greene recovered nicely after yielding three straight hits to start the game, including Abreu’s homer. He gave up a career-high nine hits in five-plus innings and struck out seven.
New York’s Shawn Kelley relieved in the sixth with runners on first and second and none out. He struck out two before Alejandro De Aza singled to left. Brett Gardner made a strong throw to nail Alexei Ramirez at the plate — a call upheld by video review — to keep it 3-all.
Chicago’s Scott Carroll (5-7) is set to start against New York’s Hiroki Kuroda (8-8). Before the game the Yankees will retired Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre’s number and unveil a plaque in his honour in Monument Park. Torre led New York to four World Series championships in five years from 1996-2000 and 12 straight play-off appearances.
