Indians rally past White Sox with 4-run 8th

[April 02, 2019]    Roberto Perez and Greg Allen drew consecutive bases-loaded walks to a cap a four-run uprising in the eighth inning, as the Cleveland Indians won their home opener with a 5-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday.

Cleveland starter Mike Clevinger surrendered just one hit and struck out a career-high 12 batters in seven innings before a leaky bullpen left him with a no-decision. Carlos Santana and Max Moroff each had an RBI single for the Indians, who matched their run total of the previous three games.

Ryan Cordell belted a pinch-hit two-run homer in the eighth inning, and Yoan Moncada had an RBI double for the White Sox, who dropped 14 of 19 encounters with Cleveland last season.

After Chicago ignited its offense for three runs in the eighth, Cleveland one-upped that total in the bottom of the frame.

Jake Bauers doubled off Jace Fry to put runners on second and third, and Dylan Covey (0-1) entered and intentionally walked Santana to load the bases. Hanley Ramirez's liner caromed off the glove of second baseman Yolmer Sanchez to allow Leonys Martin to score, and Moroff slapped a single to left to forge a tie at 3.

Covey then lost sight of the strike zone, walking Perez on four pitches and Allen on five.

Brad Hand overcame hitting lead-off batter Welington Castillo before striking out two of his final three batters to secure his second save of the season.

Adam Cimber replaced Clevinger to start the eighth inning and promptly threw wide of first base after a check-swing grounder by Jose Rondon, who advanced to second. Moncada greeted Oliver Perez with an RBI double into the left field corner, and Cordell deposited a 1-0 fastball from Jon Edwards (2-0) over the wall in center field to give the White Sox a 3-1 lead.

Chicago was limited to just Castillo's single to lead off the fifth inning against Clevinger, who eclipsed his previous career-best strikeout total of 11. The 28-year-old right-hander initially set that mark a 5-2 win against the then-host White Sox on June 14, 2018 and matched the total in six innings of a 7-5 setback versus Cincinnati on July 9.

White Sox starter Ivan Nova went seven innings, allowing one run on six hits and a walk while striking out four.

--Field Level Media

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