Gavin Sheets hit a go-ahead RBI single in the fifth to back Jimmy Lambert, Cesar Hernandez added a two-run single in the same inning, and the AL Central-leading White Sox beat the stumbling Oakland Athletics 6-3 on Tuesday night.

Lambert (1-1) allowed three hits over five solid innings to win in his third career start and six appearances as Chicago matched its season-high of 22 games above .500 (80-58).

Brian Goodwin added a two-run single in the eighth for Chicago, which lost two of three at Kansas City over the weekend, including getting shut out 6-0 in Sunday's series finale.

This marked La Russa's return to the place he managed the A's from 1986-95, winning a championship in the 1989 earthquake World Series and losing the World Series in 1988 and '90.

Elvis Andrus and Starling Marte hit RBI singles in the eighth for the A's. They have reached three straight playoffs, but are suddenly searching for answers in September to stay in the chase, losing their fourth straight game following a weekend sweep in Toronto.

Yasmani Grandal drew a bases-loaded walk in the first to put Chicago ahead before the A's tied it on Olson's sacrifice fly in the bottom half.

James Kaprielian was done after four innings and 92 pitches. It marked the 15th time in the last 23 games Oakland's starters have pitched fewer than five innings.

A.J. Puk (0-3) relieved, gave up three straight singles and took the loss.

Frakie Montas (11-9, 3.68 ERA) pitches Wednesday night having lost his only regular-season appearance against the White Sox last month. LHP Dallas Keuchel (8-8, 5.22) pitches for Chicago looking to snap a three-start winless stretch in which he's 0-2.