Sale, Sox Slammed By Cleveland 9-4
CLEVELAND (AP) — Mark Reynolds hit a grand slam in a big fifth inning and Zach McAllister pitched into the seventh, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 9-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
Reynolds had an RBI single to give Cleveland a 3-2 lead in the third inning. He connected off White Sox ace Chris Sale in a six-run fifth and tied a career high with five RBIs.
The loss was Chicago's fifth straight, all on the road. The White Sox are 0-5 away from home for the first time since 1972.
McAllister (1-1) allowed three runs in 6 1-3 innings and retired 16 of 17 at one point. He allowed five hits and struck out six. Chicago scored two unearned runs in the first.
Nick Swisher and Yan Gomes each hit two-run homers for the Indians.
Sale (1-1) gave up Swisher's home run in the first and allowed a career-high eight runs in 4 1-3 innings. The left-hander lost to the Indians for the first time in 15 career appearances, including four starts.
Following Reynolds' home run, Sale's next hit pitch hit Michael Brantley in the back — one of three hit batters Saturday — prompting plate umpire Ed Hickox to immediately warn both teams. Sale then threw a pitch in the dirt that nearly hit Mike Aviles in the foot. He was removed after Aviles flied out before Gomes homered to center off Duente Heath for his first hit of the season.
McAllister hit Alexei Ramirez on the left arm with one out in the seventh, but was not ejected. The right-hander was then removed by manager Terry Francona.
Chicago scored two unearned runs in the first, thanks in part to first baseman Reynolds' throwing error. Following Jeff Keppinger's double, Alex Rios hit a slow roller toward first. Reynolds fielded the ball, but his toss was behind McAllister and hit off the pitcher's glove. Keppinger scored and Rios took second as the ball rolled away. Paul Konerko's single made it 2-0.
Swisher hit his first home run with the Indians to tie the game. He doubled with two outs in the third on a ball that popped out of the glove of left fielder Dayan Viciedo, who tried to make the catch in front of the wall. Reynolds' single up the middle gave Cleveland the lead. Swisher was 0 for 5 with three strikeouts against Sale entering the game.
Asdrubal Cabrera led off the fifth with a single and took third when Ryan Raburn doubled off the wall in left field. After Swisher was hit in the foot by a pitch, Reynolds hit a 1-1 pitch into the home run porch in left field, giving the Indians a 7-1 lead.
Sale was 2-0 with a 2.10 ERA (eight earned runs in 34 1-3 innings) in 16 career appearances against the Indians going into the game.
The White Sox are the only winless team on the road in the majors.
Swisher has hit in 20 consecutive games at Progressive Field, a streak that began in 2008. He tied Michael Young, who now plays with Philadelphia, for the longest hitting streak in ballpark history. Progressive Field opened in 1994.
Alejandro De Aza hit a two-run homer in the seventh off Bryan Shaw.
The Indians played without second baseman Jason Kipnis (sore left elbow) and catcher Carlos Santana (bruised left thumb). Francona expects Kipins to play Sunday. Santana was in the original lineup, but the thumb bothered him during batting practice.
Konerko leads active players with 46 homers and 172 RBIs against the Indians.
A steady rain began falling about two hours before game time forcing the Indians to cut short batting practice. The temperature was announced at 44 degrees, but a 20 mph wind made it feel much colder.
NOTES: White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper was released from a northern Virginia hospital Saturday where he had been treated for diverticulitis. He became ill Tuesday while the team was in Washington for a series against the Nationals. Cooper will return to Chicago for more tests. ... C Tyler Flowers, who is hitless in his last 20 at-bats, started Saturday after not playing Friday. ... Francona said DH Jason Giambi would probably play Sunday against RHP Jake Peavy. Giambi, who began the season on the disabled list with a strained back, was activated Friday. ... RHP Brett Myers will start for the Indians.
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