Advertisement

Indians win third straight, top White Sox

CHICAGO - The Cleveland Indians (8-10) won their third straight game after losing the five previous contests, defeating the Chicago White Sox, 3-2, on Monday at U.S. Cellular Field.

The host White Sox (7-12) took it on the chin with their fourth consecutive loss and 10th in their last 13 games. They are also 4-7 now in one-run outcomes.

"It's just one of those you just keep shooting yourself in the foot," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "You give major league teams opportunities and they're going to take advantage of them. And until we clean it up, we're going to lose games. It's just that simple. It's not hard to figure out."

Asdrubal Cabrera's two-run single in the eighth inning won it for Cleveland, which is now 3-1 on its current road trip, a hopeful sign for Indians fans.

"I was looking for something to hit up the middle," Cabrera said. "I love those situations."

Cabrera's blast to center field scored Drew Stubbs, who reached base on a single and then stole second, as well as Michael Brantley, who walked.

Both runners advanced one base when White Sox' reliever Matt Thornton (0-1) threw the ball into center field for an error while trying to pick off Stubbs at second base, setting the stage for Cabrera's game-winning hit.

"I just threw the ball into center field," Thornton said. "It was a set play, (I) spun and threw it between Stubbs' legs, no chance for us to get that ball. So, I gave the game away."

It was the second straight collapse from the White Sox bullpen, having lost Sunday 5-3 against the Minnesota Twins.

"Back to back days, the bullpen blew it," Thornton added. "Well, I blew it today and yesterday was a combination.

"But that's just the game of baseball. We're going to have good runs and bad runs out there and you just want to snap the bad runs real quick and come out tomorrow and be ready to go and get a good run going."

Indians right-hander Justin Masterson (4-1) pitched seven innings of two-run ball for the win. He gave up four hits and four walks while striking out five.

Cleveland reliever Vinnie Pestano threw a 1-2-3 eighth inning, setting things up for Chris Perez, who pitched a scoreless ninth to record his third save of the season, a far cry from Sunday's 5-4 win at Houston, when Perez loaded the bases before clamping down the save.

"Sunday was fun, but tonight was okay," Indians' manager Terry Francona said. "We don't need to have that much excitement (like Sunday)."

White Sox catcher Hector Gimenez left the game after being struck by a pitch in his left shin by Masterson in the bottom of the seventh.

Gimenez was unable to get out of the way of what appeared to be a fastball down and in, sank to the ground and struggled several times to get back on his feet before limping off the field under his own power.

Ventura said Gimenez's injury "didn't look too good, but we'll see tomorrow. It hit him right in the shin, above the ankle."

But Gimenez described things otherwise.

"Everything's good, I think it's going to be okay," Gimenez said. "Let's see how I feel tomorrow. I'll be here early (for treatment) and just be ready."

Tyler Flowers came on to catch for the White Sox in the top of the eighth.

White Sox starter Dylan Axelrod gave up the Indians' first run in the second, but he settled down and retired 11 of the last 13 batters he faced. Axelrod allowed just one run on three hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked two.

"I can't ask myself to do anything else but keep us in it and be ahead coming out of the game," Axelrod said. "It's unfortunate that we're in a little bit of a rut. We just need to find a way to get it done."

The White Sox broke a tie in the bottom of the fourth inning. Conor Gillaspie walked, and he was forced at second when Alexei Ramirez hit into a fielder's choice. Gimenez's double off the left-center-field wall scored Ramirez to make it 2-1 in Chicago's favor.

The Indians were first to get on the scoreboard in the second inning. Jason Giambi singled, moved to second when Mark Reynolds walked and scored on Lonnie Chisenhall's double.

The advantage was short-lived, as the White Sox's first batter in the bottom of the inning, Gillaspie, jumped on an 0-1 pitch from Justin Masterson and deposited it in the right field stands, tying the contest at 1-1.

"We're going to turn it around, we have some guys that can swing it," Axelrod said. "It's just baseball, it happens. We go through where the offense might struggle at times and then the pitching might struggle. We're just waiting for it to come together."

NOTES: One day after he was called up from Triple-A Columbus, RHP Fernando Nieve was designated for assignment Monday when the Indians activated RHP Matt Albers from the restricted list. ... Chicago 2B Jeff Keppinger's single in the first inning broke a 0-for-24 slump. ... Cleveland RHP Brett Myers, who was placed on the disabled list Sunday, has been diagnosed with right elbow tendonitis and a mild sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament. Doctors have ordered him not to throw for two weeks and then to have a status examination. ... Including rainouts on April 10 and 11, the Indians are in the midst of a stretch where they will play 16 of their first 24 games on the road. ... Tuesday night's matchup has Cleveland RHP Zach McAllister (1-2) vs. Chicago LHP Jose Quintana (1-0). ... The White Sox still have not set a makeup date for Friday's rainout vs. the Minnesota Twins. ... The paid attendance Tuesday was 14,950.