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 That one, thrown by right-hander Jake Petricka, Walters drilled
405 feet to right field for a clutch two-run homer in the top of the
10th inning to lead the Cleveland Indians to an 8-6 victory over the
Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
Combined with 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief by right-hander
Bryan Shaw (5-3), who earned the win, it was just enough to give
Cleveland (67-63) its third straight win and 10th in the past 14
games.
"I missed the bunt," said Walters, who spent most of the season in
Triple-A before the Washington Nationals dealt him to the Indians at
the July 31 trade deadline. "I knew he was going to come at me. I
wasn't expecting to hit a home run. I was just trying to put the
ball in play. I got lucky."
Walters, who was acquired in a deal that sent shortstop Asdrubel
Cabrera to Washington, now has nine home runs this season in 95
major league at-bats. Six have come since arriving in Cleveland.
"It's an unbelievable opportunity the Indians have given me," he
said. "I was in a tough spot and it's been night-and-day different
over here. They're giving me kind of the keys to drive the car, I
guess you'd say."
The loss was the White Sox's seventh in a row, which extended their
season high by another game. Petricka (0-4) took the loss, which is
just the second for Chicago at home against Cleveland in eight games
this season.
Walters went 2-for-4, scored twice and had the two big RBIs to lead
Cleveland. Second baseman Jason Kipnis, who's originally from nearby
Northbrook, Ill., went 2-for-5 with an RBI, and the middle four
hitters in the Indians' lineup drove in a run each.
Shortstop Alexei Ramirez and right fielder Avisail Garcia did the
most damage for Chicago (59-72). Ramirez went 2-for-5 with a two-run
home run and three RBIs, and Garcia went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
Center fielder Adam Eaton, who came off the 15-day disabled list
Tuesday afternoon, went 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI single.
Chicago left-hander Jose Quintana and Cleveland left-hander T.J.
House each took no-decisions and left their starts earlier than they
had hoped. House went 4 2/3 innings and allowed five runs, while
Quintana lasted only five-plus innings and gave up six runs.
An inning after the White Sox took their first lead, 5-4, Cleveland
came back with two runs in the top of the sixth to retake the lead
6-5 on three hits and a costly error by Eaton.
He made up for the gaffe quickly by throwing out catcher Roberto
Perez trying to score from second on a shallow single by center
fielder Michael Bourn -- keeping the Indians from extending their
lead.
Chicago tied it 6-6 in the seventh on two singles and an RBI
groundout, and that's how it stayed until the 10th, when third
baseman Lonnie Chisenhall led off with a double and Walters followed
with his homer.
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"The guy throws 97 (mph)," Walters said of Petricka. "I'm not going to be
looking for (a) changeup. He's a good pitcher. I've faced him before in
the minors. I'm surprised he didn't throw me any off-speed (stuff) that
whole at-bat."
Neither side wasted time getting on the scoreboard.
Cleveland took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on four hits and a hit
batter, including doubles by Bourn and first baseman Carlos Santana.
Chicago responded with two runs off House in the bottom half, with
Garcia's two-run single scoring Ramirez and first baseman Jose Abreu.
It was the fourth straight outing Quintana hasn't looked his best. He
allowed four runs in each of his three previous starts and gave up four
earned runs in the two prior to this one.
"I feel really good," said Quintana, who threw 102 pitches. "I try to
close the game and give the team a chance to win, but I feel frustrated
with myself because I (got) pretty good support from the hitters tonight
and when you get that, I feel bad for them."
NOTES: The White Sox activated CF Adam Eaton from the 15-day disabled
list, and he manned his usual spot atop the batting order. ... White Sox
GM Rick Hahn said LHP Carlos Rodon, a top prospect, will make his next
start Aug. 30 for Triple-A Charlotte, not for Chicago. Hahn said the
first of the team's call-ups after rosters expand will arrive Sept. 2,
after an off day. ... SS Tim Anderson and RHP Francellis Montas, the
White Sox's second- and third-ranked prospects according to MLB.com, are
among seven Chicago prospects set to play for the Glendale Desert Dogs
in the Arizona Fall League. ... Indians manager Terry Francona said C
Yan Gomes (concussion) is doing a lot better and appears on course to be
activated from the disabled list Friday. ... Cleveland RF David Murphy
(oblique) is taking swings and progressing well. Francona said Murphy,
who went on the DL July 10, is "coming quick," but has no set timetable
for a return. ... Indians DH Jason Giambi (knee) is set to start a rehab
stint with Double-A Akron.
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