OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Alexei Ramirez led off the 10th inning with a home run Friday, giving the Chicago White Sox an 8-7 victory over Oakland.
The White Sox blew an early 6-0 lead and had to come back from a run down to force extra innings, then won it on the 14th homer of the year for Ramirez.
Chicago stayed within 2 1/2 games of Detroit for the lead in the American League Central after the Tigers blanked Kansas City 1-0 earlier in the evening.
Craig Breslow (5-6) came on as the sixth Oakland pitcher of the game and got an 0-2 count on Ramirez to start the 10th. Ramirez then homered to left.
Bobby Jenks survived a major scare in the bottom of the 10th to grab his 24th save. Jenks gave up two-out singles to Ryan Sweeney and Tommy Everidge before getting Nomar Garciaparra to ground out to third.
Jenks saved the win for Octavio Dotel (2-3), who worked the ninth inning.
Ramon Castro hit a two-run homer in the second, and Jermaine Dye added a two-run single in the same inning to help Chicago build a 6-0 lead.
Oakland came back to go in front by scoring seven runs over the fourth and fifth innings. Scott Hairston had a solo homer during the rally, and Mark Ellis had a three-run double.
