Lee pitches a gem as Indians blank White Sox 4-0

[May 14, 2009]  CLEVELAND (AP) -- Cliff Lee outpitched Mark Buehrle, throwing seven innings in the Cleveland Indians' 4-0 win Wednesday to take two of three from the Chicago White Sox.

It was the second series the last-place Indians have won this year, and the first since they took two of three from Kansas City at home April 21-23. Cleveland had not shut out an opponent since Lee did it with a complete game against the White Sox on Sept. 1.

Victor Martinez homered on Buehrle's seventh pitch of the game, and Ryan Garko added a two-run blast in the fourth to give Lee (2-5) his first victory in nearly a month.

The four runs Cleveland scored Wednesday doubled its output in Lee's previous four starts combined.

Lee, who hadn't won since April 16 at New York, entered the day tied for the league lead in losses despite a 1.70 ERA in his last five starts. He struck out a season-high nine while working out of two bases-loaded jams. He has now pitched 20 consecutive scoreless innings against the White Sox since July 1 last year.

Three Chicago singles loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, but Lee struck out Jermaine Dye looking to end the inning. Dye was ejected after flipping his bat in disgust and slamming his helmet while arguing with plate umpire Mike DiMuro. The helmet bounced off the ground and hit DiMuro.

Before play resumed, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was also ejected by DiMuro for shouting from the dugout. It was the 17th ejection of Guillen's career, and the first of the season.

Chicago again loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but pinch-hitter Carlos Quentin's soft fly to center ended the threat.

The loss snapped a string of victories in five consecutive starts for Buehrle (5-1), who lost for the first time since Sept. 24 last year. The four runs were the most he has allowed in a start since Aug. 30 last year, when he gave up seven at Boston.

Chicago, which has dropped three of its last four, opens a four-game series at Toronto on Friday. The White Sox are 4-8 during the month of May.

Notes: Quentin (sore heel) is expected back in the starting lineup Friday ... OF Brian Anderson (oblique) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte Wednesday night ... DH Travis Hafner (shoulder) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus Friday ... Indians utilityman Jamey Carroll made his first appearance this season when he started at third base. Carroll opened the year on the disabled list with a fracture in his left hand ... Nathan Followill, drummer from the rock band Kings of Leon, threw out the first pitch.

[Associated Press]

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