A’s Errors Ruin Rookie’s Debut

Blake Stein shut down Chicago in his major league debut, but shortstop Kurt Abbott made three errors in the seventh inning as the White Sox rallied to defeat the Oakland Athletics, 4-3, Sunday.

Oakland had five errors in all, and none of Chicago’s runs were earned.

Stein, acquired last July as part of the trade that sent Mark McGwire to St. Louis, struck out the side in the first inning and finished with eight strikeouts, a record for an Oakland pitcher making his debut. He allowed four runs, three hits and two walks in seven innings.

Oakland, which outhit Chicago, 12-3, and stranded 15 runners, led, 2-1, in the seventh. Abbott booted Wil Cordero’s grounder, Mike Cameron walked and Charlie O’Brien sacrificed. Abbott, battling erratic winds and the sun, then dropped Chris Snopek’s pop fly, tying the score.

“The wind was a little tough but this is the major leagues and you have to perform,” White Sox Manager Jerry Manuel said. “We certainly didn’t think our runs would come in that fashion, but we need the win.”

Ray Durham’s run-scoring groundout put the White Sox ahead, and Abbott threw wide of first on Magglio Ordonez’s grounder, pulling Jason Giambi off the bag. Frank Thomas followed with a run-scoring single.

After Keith Foulke’s run-scoring wild pitch in the bottom half, Abbott hit an inning-ending fly-ball out with the bases loaded. Abbott came up again with two outs in the ninth after Scott Spiezio’s double, but Bill Simas struck him out.

Jaime Navarro (3-3) allowed two runs and eight hits in six innings, walking five. Simas pitched the ninth for his first save.

Oakland led, 1-0, on Matt Stairs’ run-scoring single in the first, but Chicago tied it in the second. Albert Belle singled and scored when the pitcher bobbled Cordero’s comebacker and then threw wildly to first.

Ben Grieve’s run-scoring double put Oakland back on top in the third.