SEATTLE — Hector Noesi was with the Seattle Mariners just five months ago. They probably didn’t know it was the same guy they faced Saturday night.
Noesi worked 7 1/3 strong innings to help the Chicago White Sox eventually earn a 10-inning 2-1 victory,
With Jordan Danks on second base, Gordon Beckham reached when Seattle shortstop Chris Taylor booted his grounder. Danks advanced to third and scored when Conor Gillaspie, who entered as a pinch-hitter in the eighth, hit a hard single to right off Fernando Rodney (1-5).
“It’s one of those tough ones where you don’t really know if you should play through it,” Taylor said, “or try to break down and get rid of it quick. I decided to play through and it ended up getting an in-between hop. I should have made the play.”
Noesi allowed an unearned run and five hits with four strikeouts and a walk.
Noesi did not show much of that form in two seasons with Seattle. He was 2-14 with a 6.13 ERA in 36 appearances.
The club finally lost patience. Noesi was designated for assignment in April and eventually traded to Texas. The White Sox claimed him April 25 when the Rangers waived him.
“This is as good as he’s pitched for us,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “He was throwing strikes, getting ahead early. He pitched great. He got us into the eighth.”
Noesi said when he arrived in Chicago pitching coach Don Cooper “told me I can do it. That’s why I’m getting better.”
Cooper and Noesi put together a cap that says: Revenge NOE on the front. He had it on after the game.
“I wear every time I face my former teams,” he said.
In four appearances against Seattle, Noesi has gone 18 1/3 innings, not allowed a run and held the Mariners to a .212 average.
“It was a good game. He pitched good. You have to give him credit,” Seattle second baseman Robinson Cano said. “Really nothing else you can do in that situation. He’s one of those guys that pitches good against us and is good against any team.”
The loss ended the Mariners’ four-game winning streak.
Eric Surkamp (1-0) got the last two outs of the ninth for the win and Jake Petricka worked the 10th to pick up his eighth save.
James Paxton started for Seattle, his second outing since spending nearly four months on the disabled list with a strained left lat. He went 6 1/3 innings, allowing one run and six hits, striking out four.
The Mariners scored in the fourth inning. Cano bounced slowly to second baseman Beckham, who rushed his throw to first and pulled Paul Konerko off the bag.
Kendrys Morales lined a single through the left side, beating the right-shaded shift. Kyle Seager then stroked a first-pitch double into the right field corner — also beating the shift — to score Cano.
The White Sox tied it in the seventh. Jose Abreu led off with a double to right, moved to third on Dayan Viciedo’s deep flyout and scored on Alexei Ramirez’s double to left.
SWEET LOU ENSHIRNED
Before the game, former manager Lou Piniella became the eighth member of the Mariners Hall of Fame. He managed from 1993 to 2002 and guided the club to its only four postseason appearances. Four players in the club’s HOF — Alvin Davis, Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner and Dan Wilson — were on hand.
Piniella gave an emotional 21-minute speech, breaking down to tears twice, once when talking about late broadcaster Dave Niehaus and at the end when thanking the fans for their years of support. “I thank you, salute you,” he closed, “and will never forget you.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: Utility player Willie Bloomquist had micro-fracture right knee surgery Friday and will not return this season. He will be on crutches for the next four to six weeks.
White Sox: Outfielder Adam Eaton has a strained right oblique that necessitated a trip to the disabled list.
