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 But when the Cleveland Indians right-hander ran into the first bit
of trouble while clinging to a one-run lead, he understood what he
needed to do.
As it turns out, giving up a game-tying run in the fourth inning
proved to be about the mistake he made.
But the Indians got the run right back in the fifth inning and Bauer
gave up just four hits in 7 1/3 innings and struck out seven as
Cleveland snapped the Chicago White Sox six-game winning streak with
a 3-1 victory on Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field.
Bauer (3-1) recorded his third straight solid outing against the
White Sox this season before leaving the game with a two-run lead in
the eighth inning. This season against Chicago, Bauer has picked up
two of his three victories while allowing three earned runs in 21
1/3 innings and striking out 22.
Getting through the fourth inning on Tuesday went a long way in
adding to his success. The lone run Bauer surrendered -- which came
on an Avisail Garcia RBI single -- snapped his string of 16
scoreless innings on the road to start a season -- the longest such
streak by an Indians' starter since 1914.
"He was good," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "I don't think
maybe it was his best command, but he threw all his pitches for
strikes."
First baseman Brandon Moss provided a bit of breathing room for the
Indians (15-23) in the eighth with a solo home run off reliever Zach
Putnam.
The cushion proved to be enough for the bullpen, which used three
pitchers after Bauer left the game, keeping the White Sox scoreless.
"Any time you can get that insurance run to go up two instead of
one, it's a little more room to breathe," Bauer said.
Cleveland took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning when shortstop Jose
Ramirez drove a RBI double into the left field corner, scoring Jason
Kipnis from first base after the second baseman reached for the
third straight time with a two-out single.
Moss' home run extended the lead to two.
"We didn't knock the ball all over the ballpark," Francona said.
"But we played good enough to win."
Allen pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up his seventh save in
eight appearances. Chicago's Jose Quintana (2-4) allowed two earned
runs on eight hits in seven innings for the White Sox (18-18).
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The Indians took an early 1-0 lead after Kipnis led off the game
with a triple on a fly ball that Garcia misplayed in right field.
Cleveland left fielder Michael Brantley drove in the run with an RBI
sacrifice fly.
Bauer -- who struck out 10 in his previous start against St. Louis
-- held the White Sox hitless for 3 2/3 before Chicago first baseman
Jose Abreu laced a ground-rule double to center field with two outs
to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.
"(Bauer) was in absolute control of his pitches," White Sox left
fielder Melky Cabrera said. "He had a very good night today."
NOTES: Indians C Yan Gomes (sprained MCL) is scheduled to catch
seven innings in a Triple-A rehab game on May 20 and DH on May 21 as
he continues to make progress after going on the disabled list April
12. Manager Terry Francona said Gomes will likely need to catch nine
innings before the Indians consider bringing him back to the
big-league club. ... White Sox RF Avisail Garcia returned to the
lineup after leaving Monday's game with inflammation in his right
knee. ... After going 1-for-4 on Monday, White Sox 1B Jose Abreu
extended his hitting streak to 13 games, marking the fourth time in
the past two seasons he has collected hits in at least 13 straight
games. Abreu, who had hitting streaks of 21, 18 and 14 games last
season, is the only player in baseball with four streaks of at least
13 games in the past two seasons.
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