Indians Beat White Sox 12-6
CHICAGO (AP) — Ryan Raburn hit a tiebreaking, two-run single with two outs in the seventh inning, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 12-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
Nick Swisher, Jason Kipnis and David Murphy homered for Cleveland, which snapped a three-game losing streak. Murphy added a three-run triple in a four-run ninth against Donnie Veal.
The Indians improved to 18-4 against the White Sox since the beginning of last season, overcoming another shaky start by Justin Masterson. They will try for a split of the four-game series Sunday.
Adam Eaton had two hits, including his first homer, and walked twice for the White Sox, who have scored five or more runs in nine of their 12 games this season. Adam Dunn had a two-run single and Alexei Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 13 games dating to last season.
Ramirez's nifty slide past catcher Carlos Santana tied it at 6 in the fifth, but Raburn put the Indians ahead to stay in the seventh.
The Indians loaded the bases with one out against Ronald Belisario (1-1) and Scott Downs. Daniel Webb came in and got Asdrubal Cabrera to foul out, but Raburn followed with a bouncer up the middle to make it 8-6.
That big hit by Raburn was enough for Cleveland, which got excellent relief work after Masterson labored through 4 2-3 innings. Josh Outman (2-0), Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen combined for 3 1-3 innings of one-hit ball before closer John Axford finished in a non-save situation.
Masterson was charged with six runs, five earned, and seven hits in his first start since he lasted just 3 2-3 innings against Minnesota last Sunday. He also walked five to go along with seven strikeouts.
The right-hander dominated the White Sox last year, going 4-0 with a sparkling 0.83 ERA in 32 2-3 innings.
Chicago right-hander Felipe Paulino also had a rough start, allowing six runs and six hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out three.
Indians manager Terry Francona won a replay challenge after Nyjer Morgan was picked off in the first, leading to three runs. The overturned call put Morgan back at first, and he eventually scored on Michael Brantley's two-run single. Cabrera added a run-scoring groundout.
Eaton then helped the White Sox get off to a fast start of their own.
He walked and scored on Conor Gillaspie's single during Chicago's four-run first. He led off the second with his first homer with the White Sox, belting a drive to right on Masterson's first pitch of the inning. He walked again in the fourth, but was erased when Masterson got Jose Abreu to ground into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.
Eaton reached safely in seven consecutive plate appearances before he was retired on a harmless dribbler in the fifth. The speedy leadoff hitter, acquired from Arizona in a three-team trade in December, leads the majors with 14 runs in 12 games.
Eaton's homer gave Chicago a 5-4 lead, but Cleveland went back in front when Swisher and Kipnis connected in the fifth. It was the first set of back-to-back homers for the Indians this season.
NOTES: Indians OF Michael Bourn (strained left hamstring) will play another rehab game with Double-A Akron on Sunday. "I think he's feeling pretty good. I think the last thing is being able to get to that gear and not having to think about it. That'll be when he's ready to go," Francona said. ... White Sox RHP Nate Jones is feeling better after receiving an epidural for his ailing back. But the reliever said there is no timetable for his return. "I just want to feel 100 percent before I come back," he said. ... Indians RHP Corey Kluber (1-1, 7.71 ERA) and White Sox LHP Jose Quintana (1-0, 2.77) square off in the series finale. ... White Sox 2B Gordon Beckham (strained left oblique) is taking grounders and batting practice. He was shut down after one game on a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Birmingham, still feeling tenderness when he swings. ... The Indians are off Monday, and Francona said RHP Carlos Carrasco will work out of the bullpen before making his next start Saturday against Toronto. Carrasco allowed five runs and six hits in 4 2-3 innings during Friday's 9-6 loss to the White Sox.
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