Replacing injured right-hander Danny Salazar, Tomlin went five innings and allowed one run on four hits.
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The left-hander struggled the entire first half of the season with a 2-7 record and a 4.50 ERA, until dominating in his previous seven starts with a 5-0 record and 1.85 ERA, but he had his first poor start of the second half.
Any combination of Indians wins plus losses by the Tigers that is greater than or equal to 12 will clinch the division title for Cleveland.
The American League Central-leading Cleveland Indians attempt to continue to reduce their magic number and earn a split of their four-game series when they visit the Chicago White Sox for the finale on Thursday afternoon.
With the 8-1 victory, Chicago has now outscored Cleveland 19-5 in the first two games of the series, and have gone 10-for-25 (.400) with runners in scoring position. “We’re going to lose games, but the way we’re losing games is not right”, Lindor said. He has rediscovered the form that made him the No. 3 overall pick of the 2014 amateur draft, overpowering hitters and pitching out of the few tight spots in which he found himself.
Jose Quintana (12-10) held Cleveland to five hits over eight innings, including Brandon Guyer’s solo homer in the second in Chicago’s fifth win in seven games. “We’re just going to give it today and see how he feels (Wednesday)”, Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. He struck out two and didn’t allow a walk. He walked one and struck out seven.
Jose Abreu, Avisail Garcia, Todd Frazier and Carlos Sanchez also drove in runs.
Tomlin won for the first time since July 30, when he was 11-3 with a 3.43 ERA. Gomes is expected to come off the disabled list Friday. Shields is 0-5 with a 10.75 ERA in his last eight starts.
Indians manager Terry Francona pulled Bauer and brought in right-hander Dan Otero from the bullpen.
White Sox: DH Justin Morneau (stiff neck) was out of the lineup and 1B Abreu moved to DH after getting hit in the nose and tweaking his ankle in separate plays Monday.
Saladino said he doesn’t want to think about next year because he wants to “make every game count” with the current group.
Tomlin’s time off from the mound hopefully helped him get his mind right for this new chance to pitch before the season ends.
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Rodon managed to do the same at times on Wednesday as he stranded runners in scoring position in the first and third innings. Clevinger (2-2, 5.01 ERA) has made only two starts since August 13, with one lasting only 1 ⅔ innings against the Astros, though he gave up only one run apiece.
