CHICAGO, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Paul Konerko's RBI double in the ninth inning Friday allowed the Chicago White Sox to survive a ninth-inning meltdown and defeat Seattle 9-8.
The Mariners scored six times in the top of the ninth to take an 8-7 lead, but Chicago came back to tie it in the bottom half of the inning when Kevin Youkilis singled in Gordon Beckham.
Konerko followed with his double that brought home Dewayne Wise with the winning run.
The comeback victory lifted the White Sox 2 1/2 games in front of Detroit at the top of the American League Central.
Chicago hit three home runs while building a 7-2 lead heading into the ninth. Adam Dunn had a solo shot in the first and a two-run blast in the third to reach 38 for the season. Alexi Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the fourth.
Both Dustin Ackley and John Jaso drove in two runs during Seattle's six-run ninth.
Despite giving up three runs in the top of the ninth, Addison Reed (3-1) was credited with the victory.
Seattle closer Tom Wilhelmsen (4-3) suffered the loss.
