Indians stop Sox with 2-1 victory

Pitcher Jake Westbrook had gone 12 consecutive starts without a victory.

CHICAGO (AP) — Jake Westbrook retired 23 of 24 batters at one stretch and Grady Sizemore hit a go-ahead two-run single in the fifth inning to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

Westbrook (3-6) battled through hot and humid conditions to win his second straight outing after going 12 consecutive starts without a win.

After allowing a run in the first inning, he retired 12 in a row before Scott Podsednik’s fifth-inning single and then set down 11 another straight.

In his best outing of the season, he allowed one run and two hits, struck out five and hit a batter.

It was Westbrook’s ninth start since missing six weeks with a left abdominal strain.

Joe Borowski worked out of his own jam in the ninth, getting A.J. Pierzynski on a soft line drive with runners on first and third for his 31st save in 34 chances.

Still in first

The first-place Indians held on to a one-half game lead over Detroit, which beat Tampa Bay 9-6, in the AL Central and snapped Chicago’s four-game winning streak.

White Sox starter John Danks (6-9) didn’t allow a hit until Jhonny Peralta led off the fifth inning with a single.

One out later, Jason Michaels doubled down the line in left moving Peralta to third.

With two outs, Sizemore drove in both runners to give the Indians a 2-1 lead.

Jerry Owens led off the Chicago first with a single, stole second and moved to third on a groundout.

After Jim Thome was hit by a pitch, Paul Konerko hit a sacrifice fly.

Danks allowed two runs and four hits over six innings.

He had a career-high eight strikeouts and walked one.

Notes

The Indians made roster moves before the game, calling up INF Asdrubal Cabrera and signing INF Russell Branyan to a minor league contract.

INF Mike Rouse was designated for assignment to make room for Cabrera. Rouse hit .119 in 41 games. Branyan will play for Triple-A Buffalo.

Podsednik made a diving catch in left field on Victor Martinez’s ball in the sixth inning.

First-pitch temperature was 89 degrees with high humidity.