Indians 1, White Sox 0
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians only had three hits Friday night.
Three was enough because Nick Swisher's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Cleveland a 1-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field.
Indians starter Justin Masterson pitched a five-hit complete game to get the win. Through three starts this season Masterson has a 0.41 ERA. He has allowed one earned run on 10 hits in 22 innings.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth Michael Bourn hit a bloop double down the left field line, and went to third on a groundout by Asdrubal Cabrera.
After Jason Kipnis was intentionally walked, Swisher lined reliever Jesse Crain's first pitch down the right field line for a single, scoring Bourn with the game winner.
Chicago starter Jose Quintana and reliever Matt Thornton combined to hold the Indians scoreless on one hit through the first eight innings. The three Chicago pitchers retired 25 of the first 27 batters they faced.
Cleveland's only hit in the first eight innings was a two-out double by Michael Brantley in the second inning. The Indians' only other base runner in that span was Swisher, who got hit by a pitch with two outs in the fourth inning.
Masterson, who threw 113 pitches and has pitched 19 consecutive scoreless innings, struck out seven and walked one. Chicago got the leadoff hitter on base in four of the first eight innings. The best of those scoring opportunities came in the eighth inning, which began with a double to left field by Conor Gillaspie.
Alexi Ramirez, trying to sacrifice bunt, popped out to the catcher, Hector Gimenez grounded out and Masterson struck out Alejandro De Aza to end the inning.
NOTES: Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco was suspended for eight games and fined an undisclosed sum by Major League Baseball for hitting New York's Kevin Youkilis with his first pitch after giving up a home run to Robinson Cano in the fourth inning of the Indians' 14-1 loss to the Yankees Tuesday night. Carrasco was optioned to Class AAA Columbus on Wednesday and is permitted to pitch in the minor leagues but must immediately begin serving the suspension the next time he is recalled by the Indians. ... Cleveland catcher Carlos Santana, who hasn't played since Monday because of a bruised left thumb, could be in the lineup Saturday, according to Manager Terry Francona. ... Prior to Friday's game the White Sox placed second baseman Gordon Beckham on the disabled list with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. ... Chicago pitching coach Don Cooper will miss the rest of the road trip while he recovers from a case of diverticulitis. Bullpen coach Bobby Thigpen will serve as the pitching coach in Cooper's absence.
