Finally, the Red Sox were able to gain a game on the Yankees in the AL East standings. It's about time.
On the same day Boston came from behind to beat Oakland 8-5, New York dropped the first of a four-game set against the White Sox, falling 3-2.
Nick Swisher hit a solo shot off Matt Thornton in the top of the ninth to knot the score at two, but White Sox pinch hitter DeWayne Wise came through with a two-out, walk-off single in the bottom of the frame to send Chicago home happy.
Andy Pettitte and Gavin Floyd were both equally masterful, but Floyd was the hurler who escaped the evening with better run support. He lasted 7 2/3 innings and allowed just a single run on four hits while striking out a whopping 10 batters.
Pettitte, on the other hand, allowed two runs — one earned — on five hits and struck out eight batters.
Gordon Beckham put Chicago on the board in the bottom of the third, when his double drove in Chris Getz. New York responded with a Johnny Damon RBI single in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the seventh, Carlos Quentin grounded into a fielder's choice, which moved Jim Thome over to third — but he came around on an error by Robinson Cano to put the Sox up 2-1.
After Swisher's ninth-inning homer, Chicago's bats struck hard in the bottom of the frame. Thome shot a one-out single to center, and after he was replaced by pinch runner Scott Podsednik, Paul Konerko's single put men on first and second with one out. A.J. Pierzynski flied out, but Wise shot a single to center, scoring Podsednik.
