AFP/Chicago
ACTION PACKED: Oakland Athletics baserunner Scott Sizemore (bottom) is out at second base beneath Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Aaron Hill during the fifth inning of their MLB American League baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, California
The Cleveland Indians kept the pressure on American League East leaders Detroit on Thursday, moving to within 1.5 games with a 4-2 win over the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field.
The victory sets the stage for a key three-game series between the Indians and Tigers starting on Friday in Detroit.
“This was a much-needed series. We wanted to take this final game,” said Indians starter Justin Masterson, who won his 10th game of the season to seal Cleveland’s 2-1 series win.
“That’s been our motto—win each series,” added Masterson after allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out two in six innings.
Paul Konerko hit a solo home run in the third inning
to give Chicago the lead before a two-run blast by Matt LaPorta in the fourth inning put the Indians up 2-1.
Chicago responded with a run in the bottom of the inning but Cleveland went ahead again
in the sixth on an RBI triple from Kosuke Fukudome, who later scored on a bases-loaded walk to cap the scoring at 4-2.
“Fukudome has had some huge hits for us the last two nights, especially against left-handed pitching,” said Indians manager Manny Acta.
Chicago threatened again in the eighth inning, loading the bases with two outs, but Gordon Beckham struck out. Chicago stranded 10 runners on base.
Cleveland also had trouble scoring runners, stranding 11, and left the bases loaded in the second and sixth innings.
White Sox starting pitcher Philip Humber left the game in the second inning after being hit above the right eye by a line drive off the bat of Fukudome. He was replaced by Zach Stewart.
“That’s a God thing,” Humber said. “There’s a hand of protection around me. And I’m definitely thankful it wasn’t a lot worse and that I’m OK.”