Farquhar inspires White Sox in comeback win

CHICAGO -- Friday night was special for the White Sox, and not just because they snapped a four-game losing streak against the National League Central-leading Brewers with an 8-3 victory at Guaranteed Rate Field. But rather, reliever Danny Farquhar threw out the ceremonial first pitch less than six weeks after suffering a brain hemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm during Chicago's April 20 game against the Astros.
Farquhar's presence seemed to give the White Sox an added boost on the field. Two days after players held a 25-minute postgame meeting due to a sweep in Cleveland, the White Sox played one of their best all-around games of the season.
"It was a pretty emotional day for a lot of those guys, having him get back out there and throw the first pitch as easily as he did," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "His teammates are glad to see him back on his feet and progressing well, and it's certainly an emotional day, because it's a step forward, and just seeing him on the diamond again is really uplifting."
• Farquhar returns to White Sox for first pitch

White Sox starter Héctor Santiago, one of Farquhar's best friends on the team, felt emotional warming up before the game. The veteran southpaw said he was most happy with the progress Farquhar has made in a short amount of time.
"You are trying to get amped for a game and a situation like that where you feel for Danny and get all emotional," Santiago said. "But you also are trying to get ready to win a ballgame. I was telling [bullpen coach Curt Hasler] I'm trying to get all amped up and feeling for Danny."
The White Sox win was just the fourth time all season they had trailed by at least three runs and rallied to win. Three of the victories have come since May 3, while the other occurred on Opening Day in Kansas City.
Brewers starter Chase Anderson faced the minimum in four of his first five innings, but the White Sox ambushed him for three runs in the third after Milwaukee took a 3-0 lead in the top of the inning. The first four White Sox all reached base -- Adam Engel doubled, Charlie Tilson singled, Trayce Thompson reached on a two-base throwing error and Yoán Moncada singled -- and the South Siders scored three runs on just seven Anderson pitches.

That outburst paved the way for the White Sox to succeed against the Brewers' vaunted bullpen, which entered Friday leading the Majors with a 2.45 ERA. José Abreu drove Anderson from the game with a two-out single in the sixth, and then former White Sox relievers Boone Logan and Matt Albers each allowed one run.
"These guys came into the series knowing that these guys are a pretty good club, that they're gonna have their hands full," Renteria said. "They're obviously a formidable club, and today we were able to get some things done and come out on top."

Tim Anderson's two-run triple broke the sixth-inning tie when Christian Yelich misplayed his sinking line drive. The next hitter, Omar Narváez, tacked on an RBI single, and the White Sox added two more in the seventh on RBI hits from Yolmer Sánchez and Daniel Palka.

MOMENT THAT MATTERED
Early trouble: Santiago got off to a rocky start when he gave up a two-run homer to Ryan Braun in the first inning, but it almost careened off the tracks in the second. After recording the first two outs of the inning, Santiago walked the bases loaded in front of Braun, giving the slugger an opportunity for even more damage. Santiago induced an easy flyout to right field, however, to end the threat.
"Going down 2-0 early, I tried to make too good of pitches and put myself in a hole," Santiago said. "I did a good enough job to keep us right there."
SOUND SMART
The White Sox have a serious claim to I-94 supremacy. With Friday's win, Chicago has defeated the Brewers 13 times in their last 16 games, including seven of their last eight at Guaranteed Rate Field.
HE SAID IT
"A month and a half ago, we were thinking he could lose his life in the situation he was in. Never know if he's going to be able to come on the field again. So it was very nice seeing him out there." -- Santiago, on Farquhar
UP NEXT
The White Sox continue their weekend homestand with the Brewers on Saturday in a 1:10 p.m. CT matinee. James Shields takes the mound for Chicago, as he looks to build on another solid outing. He has completed at least seven innings in three straight starts, and hasn't had a start shorter than six frames since April 20. Shields registered a 3.38 ERA in May. Jhoulys Chacín will oppose Shields for Milwaukee.