Lake County Sentinel
Indians comeback to top White Sox 5-4 in soggy extra innings affair
BY TIM SHIRER
SPORTS EDITOR
It is a known fact that the Cleveland Indians have not performed well recently on National TV. They were on ESPN Sunday night in Chicago against White Sox. Things did not look good through seven innings, but the Tribe tied the game in the eighth and won it in 10 innings 5-4.
The White Sox got on the board first in the first inning when Jose Abreu blasted his third of the season and gave Chicago the early 1-0 lead.
The Indians showed a bit of life offensively in the third inning when Mike Freeman doubled to right field to start the frame. Sandy Leone then drew a base on balls. After the slumping Bradley Zimmer struck out Cesar Hernandez doubled to center field gap and Freeman came home tying the game 1-1. Jose Ramirez then singled to right field and Leone trotted home giving the Indians a 2-1 lead. However, the inning ended with no further scoring when Francisco Lindor grounded into a double play.
The White Sox tied and then took the lead in the sixth inning. They tied the game when James McCann belted a solo home run off Indians starter Shane Bieber. The home run was McCann’s third home run of year. The Sox took the lead when Yoan Moncada drew a base on balls. One hitter later Yasmani Grandal doubled driving home Moncada to put the Sox in front.
The Indians tied the game in the eighth inning with a two-out rally. After both Ramirez and Lindor struck out Carlos Santana drew a base on balls. Franmil Reyes then came to the plate. Reyes who has been heating up lately doubled to center field and Santana scored all the way from first base to tie the contest 3-3.
The Indians took the lead in the tenth inning. Jose Ramirez started the inning at second base as the Rob Manfred designated runner. Ramirez was the final out in the ninth inning. Lindor led of the tenth and hit a weak fly ball to center field failing to advance Ramirez. Santana then singled on a weak grounder to the shortstop putting runners at first and third with one out. Delino DeShields who was acquired in the deal that sent Corey Kluber to Texas put down a perfect sacrifice bunt and Ramirez came home executing a perfect safety squeeze and gave the Indians a 4-3 lead. Deshields was safe at first on the play. Domingo Santana then hit a ground ball in the infield and DeShields was retired at second base and Carlos Santana scored the Indians fifth run giving them a 5-3 lead.
The White Sox with the help of the Indians defense and the rain did not go down easy. Nomar Mazara started the inning on second base for the White Sox. Luis Roberts flew out to deep left field to start the inning and moved Mazara to third base. McCann then singled to center field when Indians center field Bradley Zimmer completely misjudged a fly ball, it could have been aided by the down pour of rain at the time. Mazara scored on the play pulling the White Sox to within one run at 5-4. Ryan Goins then pinch ran for McCann. Brad Hand who started the inning on the mound for the Indians then issued a base on balls to Danny Mendick, yes Danny Mendick. At this point the rain was coming down even harder and crew chief Jerry Meals called for the tarp and the game was delayed.
After a 46-minute rain delay, Oliver Perez relieved Hand and recorded the final two outs of the game to give the Indians the 5-4 win. The save was Perez’s first of the season. Phil Maton who worked a scoreless ninth earned the win, his first of the season and is now 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA.
Shane Bieber did not have his best stuff. He went six innings allowing three runs, all earned on four base hits. He issued two bases on balls and struck out eight White Sox hitters in the no-decision his first of the year. James Karinchak relieved Bieber in the seventh and pitched a scoreless inning followed by a scoreless inning by Nick Wittgren.
Lucas Giolito also did not have his best stuff for Chicago going seven innings allowing just two runs on four hits. He issued five bases on balls while striking out nine Indians hitters. He also came away with a no decision despite having the lead when he left the game. Former Indian Evan Marshall relieved Giolito and blew the save. Marshall pitched one inning allowing one run, it was earned on one hit. He also issued one base on balls and struck out two. Alex Colome’ pitched one scoreless inning for the Sox and then in the tenth inning Jimmy Cordero pitched the tenth for the Sox and the wheels fell off as he was charged with the loss allowing two runs, only one earned on two hits in one inning worked. With the loss Cordero falls to 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA.
The Indians are off tomorrow and will be back in action Tuesday at Progressive Field when they take on the Chicago Cubs at 7:10 p.m. Jon Lester will be on the mound for the Cubs. Lester, a lefty is 1-0 with an 0.82 ERA. The Indians will send righty Mike Clevinger to the hill Clevinger is 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA.
tshirer@lakecountysentinel.com or follow us on Twitter @SportsSentinel or @LCSentinelcom Check out our IndiansNation fan Page
POSTED 08/09/2020 23:47
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Photo by Ben Zedner
