ANAHEIM — Jordyn Adams’ infield hit in the 13th inning was too late to get Jack Kochanowicz the win he deserved, but good enough to get the Angels a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday afternoon.
With the automatic runner having moved to third on a fly ball, the White Sox had the infield in when Adams poked a ball off the glove of third baseman Miguel Vargas as the winning run scored.
“That’s the best feeling, especially when we have a long game like that,” Adams said of the 3-hour, 35-minute game. “I can’t really sit here and take all the credit, because my teammates helped me get in that position to do it.”
Most of the credit for the victory goes to Kochanowicz, who pitched seven innings and gave up just one run. He didn’t get the victory because the Angels couldn’t score, and then the game spun into extra innings.
The White Sox pushed their automatic runner home in the top of the 10th inning with a bunt and a fly ball. Gustavo Campero then drove in the tying run with a single. The Angels loaded the bases, but Brandon Drury grounded out to send the game to the 11th.
The White Sox scored again, on Andrew Benintendi’s two-out hit against Kenny Rosenberg. The Angels got that run back on the second pitch of the bottom of the inning, on Eric Wagaman’s single up the middle.
Neither team scored in the 12th, with the Angels leaving the bases loaded. The White Sox left them loaded in the top of the 13th, with José Quijada creating and escaping the jam with two walks and three strikeouts. That set up the winner for the Angels (62-90).
The game should have not have even come to extra innings, though. Another run anytime in the first seven innings could have given them a victory and another chance to rave about Kochanowicz’s development in his rookie season.
The 23-year-old now has a 3.05 ERA in seven starts since he returned to the majors inn early August.
“Trying to get better each time he goes out there,” Manager Ron Washington said. “That’s his mindset. And the sinker of his is pretty good. And when he can keep the feel for it and able to use it the way he would like to use it, that’s what he can do.”
Kochanowicz had his string of five straight quality starts broken last week in Minnesota. He had been heavily leaning on his sinker during his run of success, and he said he took too long to adjust once he realized that the Twins were prepared for the sinker.
This time, Kochanowicz began mixing in more four-seam fastballs early in the game.
The White Sox whiffed on four of their seven swings at his four-seamer. That helped him to five strikeouts, which was more than in any of his first eight starts.
“I feel like I just was able to use the four-seamer pretty naturally today,” Kochanowicz said. “Just been working on that a lot with (pitching coach Barry Enright). … Didn’t shy away from the game plan, mainly throwing sinkers. But the four-seamer just gives it a little more room.”
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As usual, he also got nine outs on eight ground balls, with a double play, to help him to 21 outs on 79 pitches. His pitch efficiency has allowed to get to 153⅓ innings, including his work at Double-A.
The only run he allowed was an Andrew Vaughn homer, on a first-pitch sinker that he left up and over the plate.
Even though he allowed only that run, Kochanowicz was on the hook for a tough loss until the Angels tied the score in the eighth.
Coming off the bench, Zach Neto drew a leadoff walk. He stole second (his 30th of the season) and went to third on a fly ball. Taylor Ward then hit a line drive through the drawn-in infield to tie the game.
Rookies who made their major league debuts in the past week – Campero and Wagaman – drove in the runs in the 10th and 11th to keep the game going, setting up a third rookie, Adams, to win it. Washington was grateful that Adams didn’t try to do too much with a runner at third and one out.
“All you got to do is put the ball in play,” Washington said. “That’s very important. That opportunity couldn’t present itself if he didn’t put the ball in play. He put it in play in a good spot. They couldn’t handle it, and game was over.”
Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday afternoon at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)