The Chicago White Sox have had little success against the Cleveland Indians this season. The left-hander struck out Adam Eaton in the seventh but the other five outs were on grounders.
Advertisement
“It’s getting a lot easier, ” he said, “seeing the pitchers a couple of times”.
Chicago was 2-8 against Cleveland, including seven straight losses going into the game.
“He has always got movement on the ball, but tonight he was throwing it at the front hip and moving it to the back”, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “These guys keep playing all the way through every game because they know they can do it”.
As anyone who has played baseball can tell you, blowing a good bubble isn’t easy.
Dioner Navarro’s bases-loaded single scored Todd Frazier to pull Chicago within 7-6. As impressive, he was blowing a bubble with his gum while making contact. “I’m obviously happy about the result”. “Sometimes you do things you’re not thinking about while hitting”, Eaton said, smiling.
Corey Kluber has been down this road before, claiming the AL Cy Young award in 2014 after putting up a 2.44 earned run average, an ERA+ of 160, a 2.35 FIP, and a 5.3 bWAR for a Cleveland team that missed the second wild card spot in the standings by just three games.
The Indians twice sent the potential game-tying run to the plate in the ninth against White Sox closer David Robertson.
Royals 6, Tigers 1 – At Detroit: Danny Duffy allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings and Kansas City hit four homers in a victory over Detroit. Lonnie Chisenhall homered and drove in three runs while Carlos Santana also homered. Salazar walked three and gave up a three-run double to Justin Morneau, but that was all the Sox mustered till Anderson scored in the seventh. Napoli’s secondary lead was good enough that third-base coach Mike Sarbaugh chose to challenge Eaton, who is more than capable of erasing runners.
White Sox: RHP Anthony Ranaudo will be recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to start the second game of the series, replacing RHP Carson Fulmer, who was optioned to Charlotte.
Cleveland Indians’ Carlos Santana celebrates his solo home run off Chicago White Sox starting pi … Napoli has a career-high 16-game hitting streak. White Sox RHP David Robertson, who had 34 saves past year and picked up his 30th on Wednesday, is the fourth closer in team history to have back-to-back 30-save seasons.
White Sox: C Alex Avila (strained right hamstring) is scheduled to begin a second rehab assignment with Charlotte next week. It’s the Indians’ sixth walk-off win of the season.
So much for that: Tribe right-hander Danny Salazar made his first start since August 1, when he allowed six hits and six runs in two innings against the Twins.
Salazar, who was on the DL with elbow inflammation, walked three of the first four batters he faced to load the bases with only one out.
Advertisement
Naquin has struggled a bit lately though he went 1-for-3 on Wednesday.
