Indians 7, White Sox 1
CHICAGO - Nick Swisher hit two of four Cleveland home runs and Zach McAllister threw 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball as the Indians defeated the Chicago White Sox 7-1 on a rain-soaked Sunday afternoon.
The switch-hitting Swisher hit one homer from each side of the plate, giving him his 20th career multi-home run game. It was the 13th time Swisher homered from both sides of the plate in one game, tying him with Mark Teixeira for most all-time in baseball history.
Matt Carson and Asdrubal Cabrera added home runs as well, with Cabrera delivering the big blow - a three-run shot in the sixth - to lead the Cleveland offense.
After waiting out a 4-hour, 23-minute rain delay to start the game, McAllister (8-9) allowed six hits while limiting the White Sox offense, striking out five and walking only one.
The Indians swept their four-game set with Chicago and have won 12 straight overall against the South Siders. With both the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays losing on Sunday, the Indians sit just a half game out of a wild card spot.
After looking strong early, White Sox ace Chris Sale struggled with the long ball and failed to last at least six innings for only the fourth time this year. Sale (11-13) gave up six runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven and walking three. Sale moved to sixth place on the White Sox single-season strikeout list with 214, putting him one behind Gary Peters for most by a southpaw.
Sale's fate was sealed in the sixth when the Indians sent 10 batters to the plate to break the game open.
Swisher led off the inning by sending Sale's first offering into the left field bleachers. Ryan Raburn and Carlos Santana each followed with singles, and after Sale struck out Yan Gomes, Cabrera put the game out of reach as he lined a three-run shot into the White Sox bullpen in left field, putting the Indians up 6-0.
After getting to Mike Aviles to ground out, Sale gave up a single to Carson, and Jose Ramirez drew a walk, ending Sale's evening.
Carson went 3-for-3 with a pair of runs batted in and a stolen base. It was Carson's second career three-hit game.
Swisher ended the scoring on the night by leading off the ninth with his second home run of the game, this one from the left side of the plate.
The loss pushed the White Sox to a season-worst 33 games below .500 and gave them 15 losses in their last 17 games.
NOTES: Due to the extended rain delay, the White Sox gave fans with tickets to Sunday's game a free ticket to a home game in April 2014, excluding opening day and the series against the Boston Red Sox. ... White Sox OF Avisail Garcia was scratched from the starting lineup to be with his pregnant wife. ... Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall had an off day after he went 2-for-4 with a home run. Chisenhall is hitting .348/.400/.739 with two home runs and three doubles in September. ... The White Sox start a three-game set with the Minnesota Twins on Monday, sending RHP Erick Johnson (0-2, 4.66) to the mound to face Liam Hendricks (1-2, 5.25). ... The Indians head to Kansas City for a three-game series, Scott Kazmir (8-8, 4.24) faces James Shields (11-9, 3.38).
