| Advertisement |
CHICAGO -- Trevor Bauer turned around a rough start and Ryan Raburn turned around two pitches from Chris Sale for home runs to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 3-2 win Monday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field. After walking five hitters in the first two innings, including four in Chicago's two-run second, Bauer relocated his command and threw seven innings for the win. He allowed just two hits and struck out six, bouncing back after walking five in the first two innings.
Advertisement
He wound up out-pitching Chicago's ace left-hander Sale, who took the loss despite throwing a quality start
"I don't even know what happened (in the second)," Bauer said. "Definitely a struggle, but (I'm) happy to be able to come back and throw some innings for the team and keep us in it against a tough guy (Sale)."
Right-handers Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen each threw an inning of scoreless relief, with Allen pitching the ninth for his 29th save.
Raburn, the Indians' right fielder, helped Bauer out by doing what he usually does against the White Sox (65-71). He went 2-for-2 with a walk and two solo home runs to continue a torrid career hitting trend against Chicago's American League team.
"I like playing here," said Raburn, who is hitting .296 with 20 home runs and 82 RBIs in 118 games against the White Sox. "It's a great ballpark. It's one of the places I think (has) kept me in the league, so hopefully it continues."
Three of Raburn's seven home runs this season have come against the White Sox, along with four of his eight career multi-home run games. He also has four career homers off Sale.
"It stinks giving up homers," Sale said. "Usually solo shots don't hurt you, but when you give up (darn) near a handful of them, it's tough. Today was my day to pick (the team) up and I didn't. I need to be that guy to be able to pick up my team, because they've picked me up my last time out."
Raburn's homer with one out in the sixth gave Cleveland (67-69) its first lead, and it held up as the winning margin. Second baseman Mike Aviles also hit a homer off Sale, who struck out eight in seven innings.
Right-fielder Avisail Garcia went 2-for-3 and scored a run to lead the White Sox's offense, which was silent most of the afternoon.
"We got two hits," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. "Avi got two hits off (Bauer). Apparently he was doing something good besides the wildness, but he was attempting to give it to you and we couldn't do anything with it. Typical. I think that pretty (well) sums it up (this season). It's hot and cold. It was right there for the taking."
Chicago took a 2-0 lead in the second inning without a hit off Bauer. The Indians' starter issued three straight walks on his first 12 pitches of the inning to load the bases, which led to runs on a ground out and sacrifice fly.
"If you'd have told me in the second inning that (five) innings later we'd be patting him on the back saying, 'Way to go,' that's not exactly how you draw it up," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "The 12 straight balls, I think everybody's stress level probably went up a little bit, but you talk about reeling it in ... Trevor really reeled it in and from that point on, he pitched his tail off."
NOTES: White Sox manager Robin Ventura is thinking about going to a "semi" six-man rotation for the rest of the season. ... Chicago DH/1B Adam LaRoche was a late scratch from the starting lineup against Cleveland on Monday because of patellar tendinitis in his right knee. ... White Sox C Tyler Flowers did not finish the game. He was hit on his left hand by a pitch and got hit in the jaw by a foul tip. Flowers had X-rays taken and no fractures were found. ... The White Sox have not made a decision yet about whether they will shut down rookie LHP Carlos Rodon to rest his arm. ... Cleveland RHP Carlos Carrasco is still on track to come off the 15-day disabled list to pitch Tuesday against the White Sox. ... Indians RHP Corey Kluber (hamstring soreness) did not make the trip to Chicago and continues to do rehab work back in Cleveland.
