Kluber first to 11 wins as Indians hammer White Sox

[June 21, 2018]  Corey Kluber allowed just one hit in seven innings of work to become Major League Baseball's first 11-game winner this season as the Cleveland Indians rolled past the visiting Chicago White Sox 12-0 on Wednesday at Progressive Field.

The win gave the Indians the three-game series sweep and push their winning streak to four.

Conversely, the loss was the White Sox's seventh in a row.

Jose Ramirez's three-run home run in the first inning was all Kluber (11-3) needed as he bounced back from his worst outing of the season in his prior appearance (four runs in five innings in a 6-3 loss to Minnesota) by dominating the White Sox.

Omar Narvaez's two-out single in the second inning was the only hit off Kluber, who struck out seven, walked just one and did not allow a Chicago runner to reach second base. He retired the final 14 batters he faced after walking Charlie Tilson in the third inning.

Reynaldo Lopez (2-5) took the loss for the White Sox, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks with six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

Ramirez's homer to center field plated Francisco Lindor and Michael Brantley to get things going for the Indians. Cleveland added to its lead with single runs in the fourth (RBI single by Rajai Davis that scored Yan Gomes) and the fifth (Yonder Alonso double to score Ramirez) and staked Kluber to a 5-0 cushion.

Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) tags out Chicago White Sox left fielder Charlie Tilson (22) on an attempted steal of second base in the second inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The Indians dispelled any doubt surrounding a White Sox comeback with a six-run sixth. Edwin Encarnacion's bases-loaded double off White Sox reliever Bruce Rondon pushed across Davis and Lindor and sent Ramirez to third. Ramirez then scored on a wild pitch by Rondon to increase the Cleveland lead to 8-0. Jason Kipnis then ripped a three-run home run to right-center, with Encarnacion and Alonso trotting home in front of him.

Tyler Naquin's RBI groundout in the eighth drove in Alonso and capped the Indians' scoring.

Chicago's only other hit came in the ninth as Jose Abreu ripped a one-out double off Indians reliever Josh Tomlin.

--Field Level Media

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