Butler homers in ninth to give A's 4-2 win over White Sox
Oakland Athletics designated hitter Billy Butler gives an interview in the dugout after a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, in Chicago. Oakland won 4-2. (AP Photo/Andrew A. Nelles)
OAKLAND - CHICAGO (AP) -- Billy Butler hit a three-run homer in the ninth off David Robertson, and the Oakland Athletics rallied for a 4-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.
Chicago was leading 2-1 heading into the ninth, but Robertson (6-4) blew his seventh save in 36 chances when he allowed a double to Brett Lawrie, a single to Danny Valencia and Butler's 13th homer.
White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia jumped at the wall and appeared to catch Butler's drive, but the ball fell out of his glove and into the Oakland bullpen as he hit the fence.
Sean Doolittle (1-0), the third A's reliever, pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth. Rookie starter Sean Nolin allowed two runs and five hits in five innings in his third start since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Sept. 4.
White Sox starter Jose Quintana pitched crisp four-hit ball through seven innings and Mike Olt homered for the second straight day.
Quintana allowed one run, struck out six and walked only one. In his last 20 innings, the left-hander has allowed only two earned runs on 15 hits, while fanning 16.
Chicago's Matt Albers pitched a perfect eighth before Robertson came on.
Marcus Semien also drove in a run for the Athletics. Lawrie went 3 for 4.
Olt homered for the second time with the White Sox, who acquired him off waivers from the Cubs on Sep. 5.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: INF Danny Valencia (trapezius muscle stiffness) started at third base after missing two games. ... OF Billy Burns (right hamstring) participated in pregame workouts for a fourth straight game. Manager Bob Melvin said Burns was no longer "feeling any discomfort" and planned to sprint at full speed Thursday.
White Sox: OF Trayce Thompson (hyperextended left elbow) missed his third straight game. His condition has improved, but manager Robin Ventura is keeping him out of the lineup as a precaution. ... OF J.B. Schuck left the game in the seventh with left hamstring tightness.
UP NEXT
Athletics: LHP Felix Doubront (3-2, 4.99 ERA) faces Astros RHP Mike Fiers (7-10, 3.67 ERA ) as the A's open a three-games series in Houston.
White Sox: Ace lefty Chris Sale (12-9, 3.55 ERA) will try to rebound against Indians RHP Cody Anderson (4-3, 3.68 ERA) on Friday night in the opener of a three-game set at Cleveland. Sale gave up six runs and nine hits in three innings against Minnesota last Sunday, his shortest outing this season.