Kluber Wins 4th Straight Start As Indians Beat White Sox, 3-1
CLEVELAND (AP) — Corey Kluber allowed one run in six innings to win his fourth consecutive start, and the Cleveland Indians defeated the Chicago White Sox for the seventh straight time, 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Kluber (13-8) struck out seven and walked two, allowing his only run on Justin Morenau's one-out homer in the sixth. Kluber is 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA in seven starts since a July 3 loss at Toronto.
Andrew Miller retired six straight batters, and Cody Allen pitched a perfect ninth for his 23rd save in 25 chances to complete a seven-hitter.
Cleveland opened a six-game lead over second-place Detroit in the AL Central. The Indians have outscored the White Sox by a combined 36-13 in their last seven meetings.
Francisco Lindor hit an RBI double in the first, and the Indians stretched their lead on run-scoring singles by Mike Napoli in the third and Jason Kipnis in the seventh. Napoli has a career-high 16-game hitting streak.
Jose Quintana (9-9) lost for the first time since June 28, giving up two runs and seven hits in six innings. He had been 4-0 in his previous seven starts.
Chicago's Todd Frazier was 0 for 4 with four strikeouts.
NICE GAME
Cleveland 3B Jose Ramirez made a diving backhanded stop near the line on one hop of a ball hit by Omar Narvaez and threw him out in the fourth. Ramirez laid on his back with a broad smile to celebrate the play.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: 2B Brett Lawrie (strained left hamstring) is 5 for 12 through three games of his rehab assignment at Double-A Birmingham. Manager Robin Ventura said he could be activated as soon as Thursday.
Indians: The team is optimistic OF Michael Brantley (right shoulder) will be ready for baseball activities when spring training begins. He had surgery for right biceps tendinitis Monday.
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP Anthony Ranaudo will be recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to start the second game of the series Wednesday. He is 1-1 with an 8.71 ERA in two big league starts this year.
Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco posted a no-decision in his lone start against the White Sox this season, allowing two runs in 7 1/3 innings on June 19 at Progressive Field.
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