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 The Chicago White Sox put the finishing touches on their four-game
sweep of the Cleveland Indians with a 2-1 victory Sunday at
Progressive Field.
Chicago outscored the Indians 26-5 in the series and the White Sox
never trailed at any point in the four games.
"This place has been tough on us the last few years, so to come in
here and do this is nice," said Chicago manager Robin Ventura. "We
did it with pitching and defense, and now we're swinging it the way
we can. We're on a nice roll. Hopefully we can keep it going."
Carlos Rodon on Sunday became the latest Chicago starter to stymie
Cleveland.
The four Chicago starters in the series -- Jeff Samardzija, Jose
Quintana, Chris Sale and Rodon -- were a combined 4-0 with a 0.88
ERA. In 30 2/3 innings, the four starters held the Indians to three
runs, with 27 strikeouts and no walks.
"They've been fantastic. You've got to have that to win multiple
games in a row," Ventura said.
Rodon pitched a career-high 6 2/3 scoreless innings on five hits,
with nine strikeouts and no walks. David Robertson pitched the ninth
to pick up his 21st save.
"Carlos did a great job. He was getting ahead of guys, locating his
fastball well and he threw a lot of good changeups. I didn't feel
like he was in trouble at any point," said catcher Tyler Flowers.
Cleveland averted a shutout in the ninth inning when third baseman
Giovanny Urshela tripled and scored on a groundout by pinch hitter
David Murphy.
Right-hander Danny Salazar (8-6) started for Cleveland and pitched 6
2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and
three walks.
Indians manager Terry Francona, whose team has lost eight of its
last 11 games to fall into last place in the American League's
Central Division, called a team meeting following the game.
"Things are not going the way I want them to, and that will change.
It's going to get better," Francona said.
The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when catcher
Carlos Sanchez, who hit his first major league home run Saturday,
led off the inning by hitting his second major league home run, over
the wall in center field.
Chicago scored a run in the seventh inning, which began with a
one-out single by Sanchez. Center fielder J.B. Shuck flied out for
the second out, but third baseman Tyler Saladino walked.
Right-hander Zach McAllister relieved Salazar. Left fielder Melky
Cabrera greeted McAllister with a line drive single to center,
scoring Sanchez and giving the White Sox a 2-0 lead.
Only once in the first five innings did Rodon allow a baserunner
past first. Cleveland's best chance to score came in the third
inning. Right fielder Brandon Moss led off with a single and catcher
Roberto Perez doubled into the left field corner, moving Moss to
third.
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With runners at second and third and no outs, Rodon pitched out of
the jam without a run scoring. Third baseman Mike Aviles hit a sharp
grounder to first baseman Jose Abreu, who threw home to catcher
Flowers, who tagged out Moss for the first out.
"I was lucky enough to get a groundball and Jose made a good throw
home. Our defense played great all day," Rodon said.
Rodon then got second baseman Jason Kipnis, the hardest hitter in
the American League to double up, to ground into an inning-ending
double play. Kipnis came into the game having grounded into one
double play in 376 at-bats.
"I don't expect us to keep playing like this. We have no choice but
to show up tomorrow and turn this thing around," Kipnis said.
In the fifth inning, Indians first baseman Jesus Aguilar was hit by
a pitch leading off the inning. Rodon then retired the next three
batters in order to keep Cleveland off the scoreboard.
The Indians threatened again in the seventh inning. Designated
hitter Carlos Santana singled with one out. Aguilar struck out, but
Moss singled, moving Santana to third. Right-hander Jake Petricka
relieved Rodon, and Petricka struck out Perez to end the inning.
NOTES: Indians OF/1B Nick Swisher, who has made two rehab
appearances at Double-A Akron, is scheduled to make two more, Sunday
and Monday. Swisher has been on the disabled list since June 14 with
left knee inflammation. ... Prior to the game, the White Sox
reinstated INF Emilio Bonifacio from the bereavement list and
optioned INF Leury Garcia to Triple-A Charlotte. ... LHP Chris Sale
struck out seven in his win Saturday. That snapped Sale's major
league single-season record of for most consecutive road starts with
10 or more strikeouts at seven.
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