Ninth-inning homers give A’s sweep on road against White Sox

CHICAGO - The way they have struggled on the road, the Oakland Athletics sure were glad to sweep a three-game series - even if they did it against a rebuilding team.

Sonny Gray pitched four-hit ball over seven innings, Adam Rosales and Matt Joyce hit back-to-back homers in the ninth, and the Athletics rallied to beat the Chicago White Sox 5-3 on Sunday.

“It’s no secret we struggle on the road,” Gray said. “Guys in the clubhouse are aware. We’re smarter than a lot of people think sometimes. We know what’s going on.”

The Athletics improved to 12-25 away from home after outscoring Chicago 18-5 in a three-game sweep. But the schedule takes another tough turn when the Athletics open a three-game series Tuesday at AL West leader Houston - the same team that just swept four in Oakland.

Gray (3-3) picked up his first win since May 24. Chicago native Rosales and Joyce broke it open with their drives against David Robertson and Chris Beck to start the ninth, and Oakland completed the three-game sweep after getting dominated by Derek Holland.

The White Sox were rolling along with a 2-0 lead after Adam Engel hit his first career homer and Jose Abreu doubled and scored.

But things started to turn in the seventh. Yonder Alonso chased Holland with a leadoff single, and the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead.

“Those guys have picked me up before,” Holland said.

Not this time, though.

Alonso scored on a two-out double by pinch hitter Jed Lowrie against Dan Jennings.

Oakland grabbed a 3-2 lead in the eighth on RBI singles by Khris Davis and Alonso against Tommy Kahnle (0-2) and Robertson.

“We were basically stagnant for a good portion of the game today and not even getting good at-bats, let alone opportunities,” manager Bob Melvin said. “And then all of a sudden the good at-bats came, kept fighting back, got ourselves in a position, and it seems like from the sixth inning on the at-bats were completely different than the first half of the game.”

It was the White Sox’s first loss in 29 games when they were leading after the seventh inning as they dropped to a season-worst 10 games below .500.

“I tried to stay out there as long as I could,” said Holland, who gave up four hits in six innings.

Gray struck out seven and walked one after going 0-2 in his previous five starts.

Santiago Casilla gave up a leadoff homer to Melky Cabrera in the ninth but earned his 13th save in 16 chances.

Holland held Oakland to one run and exited to loud cheers with a 2-0 lead. Manager Rick Renteria stayed in this one after back-to-back ejections, but the White Sox lost for the sixth time in seven games. They also fell a season-high 10 games below .500 at 32-42.

“Our bullpen has done a great job,” Renteria said. “It really has.”

NOTES

A’s shortstop Marcus Semien, on the disabled list since April 16 (right wrist fracture and surgery), homered and had three hits Saturday in his second rehab game with High-A Stockton.

“We want to make sure we don’t overwork the wrist,” Melvin said.

Melvin said third baseman Matt Chapman, on the 10-day DL with bacterial skin infection on his left knee, was being released from the hospital on Sunday.

Lowrie was out of the Oakland lineup for the second consecutive game because of a minor knee injury. He said he’s not sure if he’ll see a doctor.

White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon rejoined the team and is ready to make his first start of the season after being out because of bursitis in his left biceps.

Renteria said a return date is not set, though Rodon will start on the current homestand.

He threw 41/3 innings for Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.