White Sox force issue

Roberto Hernandez hit A.J. Pierzynski with a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, forcing in the deciding run in the White Sox' 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians yesterday in Chicago.

Jermaine Dye and Joe Crede hit back-to-back singles off Hernandez (0-1) to open the ninth. Hernandez then made a low pickoff attempt at second for an error, with pinch runner Rob Mackowiak and Crede moving up.

Tadahito Iguchi was walked intentionally to load the bases before Hernandez's pitch appeared to graze Pierzynski near the left elbow.

Bobby Jenks (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the victory.

The Indians tied it in the eighth against Matt Thornton on Grady Sizemore's single and Jason Michaels's RBI double on a 3-and-2 pitch.

Scott Podsednik's two-out single in the seventh off Rafael Betancourt had given the White Sox a 3-2 lead.

Sizemore homered off Mark Buehrle on the third pitch of the game.

He also made three nice catches in center field, hitting the fence each time and holding on to the ball.

Indians starter Jeremy Sowers allowed a leadoff single to Podsednik in the first, then held the White Sox hitless for the remainder of his outing, going six innings and allowing two runs with five walks.

Michaels, who made a tumbling catch to end Wednesday's game, hit a solo homer to put the Indians ahead, 2-1, in the third.

Athletics 4, Angels 3 -- Mike Piazza hit his first home run as a full-time designated hitter, connecting against Francisco Rodriguez with two outs in the ninth inning, to lift host Oakland over Los Angeles.

Piazza, who has hit the most home runs as a catcher in major league history, drove a 1-and-1 pitch just to the right of dead center field for his first homer in 22 career at-bats at Angel Stadium.

Kiko Calero (1-1) recorded one out to get the win and Huston Street got three outs for his first save. Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson hit consecutive solo homers in the fourth for LA.

Braves 8, Phillies 4 -- Chuck James pitched five solid innings, Kelly Johnson hit a two-run homer, and Atlanta completed a three-game sweep at Philadelphia.

The Braves are 3-0 for the first time since opening with seven straight wins in 1994.

Adam Eaton (0-1) was roughed up in his first start since signing a $24.5 million, three-year contract with the Phillies. The righthander allowed eight runs -- seven earned -- and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

James (1-0) gave up one run and six hits, striking out five.

Macay McBride walked the bases loaded and Chad Paronto walked in two runs before Rafael Soriano retired Carlos Ruiz on a popup to shortstop to end the game and record his first save with the Braves.

Giants 5, Padres 3 -- Host San Francisco avoided its first 0-3 start in 23 years by beating San Diego.

Barry Bonds had an RBI double, Ray Durham hit a go-ahead two-run single after a walk to Bonds in the decisive fifth, and Matt Morris pitched six strong innings for the Giants.

Josh Bard hit a two-out, two-run single in the ninth for the Padres, but Armando Benitez got Mike Cameron to pop out with runners on first and second for his first save.

Reds 5, Cubs 2 -- Michael Barrett's passed ball let in the tiebreaking run during a seventh-inning rally that helped host Cincinnati beat Chicago.

Scott Hatteberg added a two-run homer in the eighth off Scott Eyre. Victor Santos (1-0) earned the win.

Diamondbacks 4, Nationals 3 -- Chris Young hit a two-run single in the first inning, Orlando Hudson homered in the third, and Arizona held on at Washington.

With light snow falling, the temperature in the mid-20s, and the windchill dipping into single digits, the Tigers-Blue Jays game in Detroit was postponed until Sept. 10.