White Sox chase Indians' Kluber early in 8-3 win

[April 04, 2019]  Leury Garcia had a career-high four hits and Carlos Rodon pitched six strong innings as the visiting Chicago White Sox cruised to an 8-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday afternoon.

Yoan Moncada homered and joined Garcia in scoring three times for the White Sox, who salvaged a split of their abbreviated two-game series to conclude their season-opening five-game road trip.

Chicago will have an extra day to prepare for its home opener against the Seattle Mariners, as expected inclement weather caused the postponement of Thursday's contest. The teams are scheduled to play on Friday.

The White Sox rained on Corey Kluber (0-2) from the start, with the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner laboring through a 36-pitch first inning before exiting after 3 1/3 frames.

Kluber, who was 4-0 with a 0.96 ERA against Chicago last season, allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits with three walks -- including the first of his nine-year career with the bases loaded.

Rodon (1-1) settled down after a 28-pitch first inning to yield just one unearned run on two hits while striking out nine.

Kluber surrendered an RBI single to Yonder Alonso in the first before issuing his second walk of the inning to plate another run. Jose Rondon's fielder's choice scored Alonso to give Chicago a quick 3-0 lead.

 Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) throws the ball during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Santana continued his strong start to the season by plating Jose Ramirez with an RBI single in the bottom of the first, but the White Sox regained their three-run advantage in the second as Jose Abreu's single to left allowed Garcia to score from second base.

Abreu wasn't done as he drove Kluber from the game and gave Chicago a 6-1 lead after depositing a first-pitch sinker into right field for a two-run double in the fourth inning.

Moncada sent an 0-2 fastball from Neil Ramirez deep into the seats in right field for a two-run homer in the eighth inning.

Cleveland's Hanley Ramirez answered with a two-run shot in the ninth to cap the scoring.

--Field Level Media

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.