Dunn homers, White Sox pound Indians 9-3

[May 26, 2012]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Adam Dunn hit his 15th homer, A.J. Pierzynski and Dayan Viciedo each went deep for the second time in as many nights, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 9-3 on Friday for their seventh win in eight games.

Pierzynski also tripled and scored three runs while driving in two. Viciedo knocked in two runs and scored twice, and the White Sox gave Jose Quintana (1-0) all the support he needed in his first major league start.

They used the long ball again to take out the AL Central leaders after hitting five homers Thursday against Minnesota. Dunn drove a two-run shot in the first after Cleveland scored a run in the top half. Pierzynski connected leading off the second, and Chicago broke open a one-run game in the sixth, scoring three times with two outs while chasing Jeanmar Gomez (3-3).

Alexei Ramirez knocked him out with an RBI single after Pierzynski and Viciedo walked, and Alejandro De Aza drove in two more runs with a bases loaded single off Jairo Asencio to make it 6-2, sending Cleveland to its third loss in 11 games.

The White Sox added three more with two outs in the seventh, with Alex Rios reaching on a single to third that initially was ruled an error. He scored on Pierzynski's triple and Viciedo hit a two-run homer.

It's not what the Indians envisioned after sweeping a three-game series from Detroit, the team many thought would win the division. But the second-place White Sox are looking good at the moment.

They swept the Cubs, took two of three from Minnesota, and they didn't blink with the scheduling taking a tougher turn, pulling within 2 1/2 games of Cleveland on Friday.

The White Sox called up Quintana from Triple-A Charlotte with John Danks going on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left shoulder, and he came through with a solid outing.

The 23-year-old left-hander allowed two runs and four hits in six innings. He wasn't quite as dominant against the Indians this time, after pitching 5 2-3 scoreless innings of relief against them in his only other appearance on May 7, but he was good enough.

Gomez simply had a rough night, giving up six runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings.

NOTES: Asdrubal Cabrera was replaced at shortstop in the seventh because of tightness in his left hamstring, and C Carlos Santana left in the eighth after being struck by a foul tip. ... The Indians called up SS Juan Diaz from Double-A Akron and optioned starting pitcher Zach McAllister to Triple-A Columbus before the game. Manager Manny Acta said Diaz will likely be sent back to the minors on Monday, when pitcher Josh Tomlin (sore right wrist) is expected to be activated from the 15-day DL. Tomlin threw a 50-pitch bullpen session Thursday and reported no pain. ... Travis Hafner underwent an MRI on Thursday on his right knee and took an anti-inflammatory for irritation in the meniscus. He did not travel to Chicago. ... White Sox 2B Gordon Beckham made a neat play in the third when he raced back to make a sliding catch on Carlos Santana's foul down the right-field line. ... Jake Peavy starts Saturday for Chicago, with Derek Lowe going for the Indians.

[Associated Press; By ANDREW SELIGMAN]

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