White Sox Beat Indians 5-4, Stay 1 Game Ahead Of Tigers
CHICAGO (AP)—Adam Dunn homered twice, including a clutch three-run shot in the eighth inning, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 5-4 on Monday night to maintain their one-game lead in the AL Central.
Dunn drove an 0-2 pitch from Vinnie Pestano (3-3) over the wall in right-center with runners on the corners and two out in the eighth, putting Chicago ahead 5-3. Kevin Youkilis kept the inning alive with an infield single before Dunn connected for his 41st homer of the season.
Dunn also went deep in the sixth as Chicago snapped a five-game losing streak and stayed in front of second-place Detroit, which beat Kansas City 6-2. The top two teams in the division each have nine games left.
Brett Myers (3-3) pitched the eighth for the win. The Indians got a run in the ninth when Shin-Soo Choo hit a two-out RBI double off Donnie Veal, who then retired Jason Kipnis on a grounder to convert his first save opportunity of the season.
Cleveland starter Zach McAllister struck out seven in six innings and was charged with two runs and four hits.
Chicago ace Chris Sale gave up 10 hits in seven innings, including Russ Canzler's two-run homer in the sixth that gave the Indians a 3-1 lead.
The White Sox had another run cut down at the plate in the fourth when Alejandro De Aza tried to score from first on Youkilis' double into the left-field corner. Catcher Lou Marson took the relay throw from third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall and first base umpire Dan Bellino, who was covering the plate, called De Aza out.
A replay showed that De Aza's foot hit the plate before the tag.
The White Sox tied it in the fifth on another close play after Alex Rios singled and A. J. Pierzynski walked. After a fielder's choice put runners at the corners, Alexei Ramirez hit a grounder to shortstop and just beat the relay throw to first, allowing Rios to score on the failed double play.
Cleveland grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third on Kipnis' single and Asdrubal Cabrera's double to right.
NOTES: Dunn now has six seasons of at least 40 homers. He's also the sixth player in White Sox history to reach 40, joining Frank Thomas, Paul Konerko, Albert Belle, Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome. ... Indians OF Michael Brantley (sore groin) was out of the starting lineup. Manager Manny Acta said Brantley was injured during a rundown against Kansas City. He said Brantley will "need a day or two." ... Acta said SS Jason Donald (wrist) was "a little sore" after swinging a bat Sunday, the first time he's done so since being hit by a pitch Sept. 14. There is no timetable for his return. .... White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Jake Peavy might be pushed from Wednesday to Thursday, meaning he would pitch the opener of the final four-game home series against the Rays.
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