NEW YORK -- For the Chicago White Sox, double plays and a poorly located fastball by CC Sabathia were their best friends.

For the New York Yankees, those things were their worst nightmare in their quest to win the American League East.

Shortstop Alexei Ramirez started four double plays and third baseman Mike Olt opened the seventh inning with a tiebreaking home run as the White Sox damaged the Yankees division aspirations with a 5-2 win Friday night.

The White Sox turned four double plays for the fourth time this season but it marked the third time since 2009 the Yankees hit into at least four double plays.

The timing couldn't have been worse for the Yankees (84-67), since while they were hitting into four double plays, the Toronto Blue Jays were on their way to going up four games in the division.

"Double plays," New York manager Joe Girardi said when asked what his team's biggest problem was. "We hit into some double play balls. A couple important ones with runners in scoring position and that was the biggest problem."

Ramirez started double plays for rookie left-hander Carlos Rodon (9-6) in the fourth and sixth. He also started a double play in the seventh for Matt Albers and in the eighth for Zach Duke.

The first double play came after the Yankees tied it at 2-2 on a two-run single by shortstop Didi Gregorius and loaded the bases. Rodon retired third baseman Chase Headley the end the inning.

The second double play occurred when the Yankees had first and second but Rodon retired center fielder Brett Gardner.

"We had a few of those that really get you out of a bind," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "These guys can put pressure on you if they get guys on base. They're not a big stolen base team, so if you can get the ball on the ground, you have a chance to turn them."

Three pitches into the seventh, Olt drove a 2-1 fastball from Sabathia (5-10) into the lower rows of the second deck, delighting about the 20 friends and family he had from the New Haven area in the stands.

"I had couple of family and friends (here)," said Olt, who has three home runs in 60 at-bats with the White Sox. "So it was pretty cool to be able to do something like that here for them. They've been very supportive throughout the last couple of years. I'm sure a lot of people were watching, so it's very cool."

Second baseman Gordon Beckham followed with a solo home run, sending Sabathia's 1-2 fastball into the first level of the left field seats.

"OK wasn't good enough to win," Sabathia said after allowing four runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. "I have to be better, especially late in the game and kind of hold the scoring, keep us right there and give us a chance to win."

Besides the home runs, the White Sox snapped a nine-game losing streak in New York by getting RBI singles from Ramirez, designated hitter Avisail Garcia and center fielder Adam Eaton.

Eaton's hit came in the ninth after Ramirez started a double play on designated hitter Alex Rodriguez in the seventh and left fielder Chris Young in the eighth. It also gave the White Sox a 5-2 lead for former Yankee David Robertson.

Pitching exactly one year after blowing the same lead in Derek Jeter's last game, Robertson easily notched his 32nd save in 39 chances.

The double plays were part of an erratic outing by Rodon, who likely made his last start of the season. In six innings, Rodon allowed two runs and five hits despite issuing five walks for the fourth time this season.

"That's huge," Rodon said. "It lowers your pitch count, quick outs, double plays get you out of innings quick. Kind of brings their offensive side down."

"I think he did a great job," Olt said. "When he did get runners on, he was able to make pitches down in the zone, get ground balls. We got a couple of double plays for him to help him out and I think he did a great job just keeping his composure out there and competing and ended up winning the game."

NOTES: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (hamstring) made it through a bullpen session Friday without issues. The Yankees will see how he feels Saturday and he could return to the rotation early next week. ... Chicago manager Robin Ventura said LHP Chris Sale's last start of the season would likely be Thursday against Kansas City or Friday against Detroit. Sale's 267 strikeouts are two shy of Ed Walsh's team record set in 1908. Sale has thrown 201 2/3 innings and his career high is 214 1/3 in 2013. ... CF Jacoby Ellsbury had the night off but flied out as a pinch hitter. Manager Joe Girardi said his absence is not injury-related and he expects Ellsbury to play Saturday.