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Jays end slide Toronto uses ninth-inning rally to topple White Sox
Posted: Monday May 22, 2000 07:14 PM
TORONTO (AP) -- Craig Grebeck has the role of a utility player all figured out. Grebeck hit a game-winning single in the ninth inning Monday as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 4-3 to stop a four-game losing streak. The 5-foot-7 utility player went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, playing in place of Homer Bush, who is in an 0-for-11 skid. "I know my role," said Grebeck, who is hitting .383 in 47 at bats. "A lot of teams have utility players, but they don't have a true utility player. The key in doing this job is working. You have to practice like you're playing, and if you do that you'll be OK." Although Bush is batting just .200, Grebeck doesn't expect to become the starting second baseman. "Homer is our second baseman. He didn't hit .320 by fluke last year," Grebeck said. "We needed to give Homer a day off, he's been struggling. We got a big win while he's sitting. If we can get him back in there, and get him going, this team will start rolling." Chicago overcame a 3-1 deficit in the ninth on a two-out single by Jeff Abbott off Billy Koch (3-0) on a 3-2 pitch and Herbert Perry's second home run of the season, an opposite-field shot to right. But Bob Howry (0-1) walked pinch-hitter Darrin Fletcher with one out in the bottom half, Shannon Stewart hit a ground-rule double and Grebeck grounded a single under the glove of shortstop Jose Valentin, playing in as the White Sox hoped for a double play. Toronto manager Jim Fregosi knows he can count on Grebeck being ready when he's called upon. "Craig knows what his job is, and he keeps himself ready to play. That's what experience on the bench means," Fregosi said. Toronto's Pete Munro, making his first start of the season, didn't allow a hit until Chris Singleton doubled with two outs in the fourth and gave up just four hits and one run in 7 1-3 innings. Valentin's RBI single tied the score 1-1 in the fifth. Grebeck's solo homer off Jim Parque put Toronto ahead in the fourth. Toronto took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth on a throwing error by Greg Norton and Stewart's RBI single. Parque allowed three runs -- two earned -- and eight hits in seven innings. "It's tough to lose the last game of a series when you're about to sweep, but we took three of four from a very good team," Perry said. Notes: Grebeck is in his 11th season. ... A woman dressed as Queen Victoria threw the ceremonial first pitch. After the game, there was a fireworks presentation. Queen Victoria Day is a national holiday in Canada. ... The White Sox had their three-game winning streak snapped and finished a 5-2 road trip. ... Grebeck has three home runs this season. ... Attendance was 19,167.
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