White Sox solve Tribe with slammin' rally in 9th
CLEVELAND -- After trading punches all night, the White Sox delivered the final blow in a 10-7 win over the Indians on Wednesday at Progressive Field. Chicago right fielder Adam Eaton crushed his first career grand slam in the top of the ninth off Cleveland closer Cody Allen as the White Sox used a five-run rally to erase a two-run deficit.
With the win, the South Siders snapped a seven-game losing streak to the American League Central-leading Tribe. Over the previous seven games between the two clubs, Chicago didn't score more than three runs.
"A good team win, really a boxing match from the beginning," Eaton said. "It was really intriguing how they came out and scored a couple. We had our two-run homer to come back and vice versa in the third and the fourth. It was a long game, but definitely an intriguing game where I'm glad we got the last punch."
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Allen entered in the ninth to try to extend the Indians' divisional dominance. After getting the first batter out, Allen allowed the next five batters to reach, capped by an RBI single from Dioner Navarro and the grand slam by Eaton as Cleveland fell to 32-17 vs. AL Central teams. Per Statcast™, Eaton's jack to right traveled a projected 390 feet from home plate with an exit velocity of 100 mph.
"That's baseball," Allen said. "You've got to make pitches when you have to. Had a nice opportunity right there to kind of limit what was going on. Didn't actually think that was a bad pitch to Eaton, he just put a good swing on it. That guy's a good player. That's kind of how the inning went."
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Neither starter factored into the decision. Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco surrendered a pair of two-run leads, but was able to fight through 6 2/3 innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits, while punching out 11 batters with no walks. It marked his ninth career double-digit strikeout game.
Meanwhile, White Sox righty Anthony Ranaudo went just four innings, allowing five runs on eight hits. He surrendered home runs to Lonnie Chisenhall and Carlos Santana. Per Statcast™, Santana's solo shot to right in the third traveled a projected 426 feet.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Guyer on fire: Indians left fielder Brandon Guyer got a rare start against a right-hander. Guyer made the most of it, going 3-for-5, including a go-ahead two-run single in the fifth that broke a 5-5 deadlock. Entering Wednesday, Guyer boasted a .358 batting average against lefties, but was hitting just .204 against righties. This homestand, Guyer is 8-for-17 with seven RBIs. More >
"It's always fun, whether it's a righty or lefty, to get out there on the field," Guyer said. "I love playing with these guys. It's a fun group of guys. It stinks we lost, though. That's all I can think about right now. But, we'll come back tomorrow and we'll be good."
Swing and a drive:Tim Anderson didn't let a 2-0 Cleveland lead last long. After J.B. Shuck singled off Carrasco to open the third, Anderson launched a high drive down the left-field line that clanked well up off the foul pole. Anderson's seventh home run also extended his career-high hitting streak to 10, traveling 394 feet at an exit velocity of 108 mph, according to Statcast™.
"Just looking for a pitch I could handle," said Anderson, who also drew a key walk during the five-run rally in the ninth. "I felt like he was going to come in and he did, and I was able to get the barrel to it."
Big Lon: Chisenhall put the Indians on the board first by lifting a 1-1 offering from Ranaudo for a two-run shot to right. Per Statcast™, the ball traveled an estimated 384 feet with an exit velocity of 98 mph. It was Chisenhall's seventh home run of the season, but his first since July 8. In fact, it had been 28 games (20 starts) since Chisenhall went yard. Chisenhall added an RBI single in the third.
Ranaudo's return: In his first start for the White Sox on July 27 at Wrigley Field, Ranaudo pitched 5 1/3 hitless innings before giving up a home run to Kris Bryant, but he was hit quite a bit harder Wednesday in his return to the rotation. Ranaudo, who will start as long as Miguel González is on the disabled list, struck out two and walked one over 88 pitches.
"It came down to executing pitches," Ranaudo said. "The guys I did get ahead of, I didn't put away. Those were some costly hits that led to some runs. So I just think I have to execute a little more. I threw some strikes, but the quality of strikes has to be better. You saw that reflected in the hard contact tonight."
QUOTABLE
"It's one game. Obviously, it was a tough one, but it's one ballgame. We'll show up tomorrow ready to play." -- Allen, on the disappointment after blowing a two-run lead More >
"It was great. Great momentum. Very fun to play in that kind of game, especially when Eaton hit the grand slam. It was a big moment for us." -- Anderson, on the win
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
In the fourth, Tribe catcher Roberto Pérez rolled a hopper to second. The White Sox began what should have been a routine double play. However, the throw to second for the first out pulled Anderson off the bag. Chicago was initially credited with a double play, but Cleveland manager Terry Francona elected to challenge the call. After a 34-second review, the call was overturned and Guyer was ruled safe at second. Guyer later came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Jason Kipnis, tying the game at 5.
The Indians lost their challenge in the top of the fifth, when Francona challenged a safe call at second on Eaton's double. The call stood after a review of one minute and eight seconds.
WHAT'S NEXT
White Sox:Carlos Rodón looks for his second straight victory, as the White Sox complete a nine-game road trip Thursday night at 6:10 p.m. CT at Progressive Field. Rodon is 3-0 with a 1.75 ERA lifetime against the Indians.
Indians:Danny Salazar is slated to start for the Indians in the series finale at 7:10 p.m. ET. The right-hander has been on the disabled list since Aug. 2 with right elbow inflammation. Salazar has faced the White Sox twice this season and has gone 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA, allowing three earned runs in 12 innings.
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