Nick Martini’s first big-league hit makes A’s winners in his hometown

CHICAGO — During Nick Martini’s seven long years in the minors, he played a couple of seasons with outfielder Stephen Piscotty in the Cardinals’ system. On Saturday, Martini’s first big-league hit sent Piscotty in with what turned out to be the game-winning run for the A’s.

With two outs in the eighth inning, Piscotty — who had run into the final out of the sixth — sprinted in on Martini’s single to center and got his foot in just ahead of the throw to the plate to give Oakland the lead in an eventual 7-6 win over the White Sox. Piscotty jumped up, pumped his fits and yelled in jubilation.

“Really cool, great moment, great at-bat,” Piscotty said. “The team battled back and he put us over the top.