Pierre's 2-Run Single in 10th Lifts White Sox

Light-hitting Juan Pierre laced a tiebreaking, two-run single off the wall in the 10th inning, helping the Chicago White Sox rally for a 6-4 win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

With the bases loaded, Pierre, who's known for his speed more than his power, turned on a pitch from Clayton Mortensen (2-4) that hit off the top of the wall in right.

The ball was hit so hard and on such a line that the runners held up on the bases, limiting Pierre to just a single. A.J. Pierzynski and Gordon Beckham scored on the play as the White Sox took two of three from the Rockies in the series. It's also the nine straight interleague series Chicago has won on the road.

Sergio Santos pitched a perfect 10th for his 17th save in 19 chances. Jesse Crain (4-2) picked up the win by getting the last two outs in the ninth.

The three-game series was tightly contested, with the Rockies winning in 13 innings on Tuesday, the White Sox taking the second game with a run in the ninth Wednesday and then Pierre coming up big for the White Sox on Thursday.

Beckham finished with three hits, including a solo homer in the seventh.

Troy Tulowitzki hit a three-run homer in the first for Colorado and Todd Helton played in his 2,000th career game.

Trailing 4-2 heading into the eighth, the White Sox rallied for two runs off Rockies reliever Matt Lindstrom. Beckham had an RBI single and Pierre later drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly.

Jake Peavy only made one major mistake all afternoon, leaving a pitch up to Tulowitzki in the opening inning after the two engaged in quite a showdown.

On the 12th pitch of the at bat, Tulowitzki crushed an 89-mph fastball from Peavy over the fence in center for a three-run homer.

Peavy scattered seven hits over six innings and allowed four runs in the no decision. The righty is 13-8 with a 3.01 ERA lifetime in interleague games.

This was Peavy's third appearance since coming off the disabled list last week with a strained groin. Peavy pitched in relief in his last outing, throwing four scoreless frames to pick up the win against Washington last Saturday. It was the first relief stint of his career.

Aaron Cook found the form that made him Colorado's all-time winningest pitcher, giving up five hits and one run before being pulled for a pinch hitter in the sixth. He's still searching for his first win since last September as the bullpen couldn't hold a late lead.

The sinkerball specialist enticed the White Sox to hit into three double plays, allowing him wiggle out of several jams.

Cook struggled with his command in the second as he walked three in the inning, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch that allowed a runner to score. But he eventually escaped further damage by getting Pierre to ground out with the bases loaded.

Moments before the game, the Rockies acquired veteran second baseman Mark Ellis from Oakland to revamp their infield. He's expected to be available Friday night against Kansas City.

The Rockies are hoping he can provide some consistency at second. The team has used Chris Nelson, Jonathan Herrera, Eric Young Jr. and Jose Lopez, who's now gone.

On the afternoon Ellis was acquired, Herrera had two hits.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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