White Sox handle Tribe again with 6-5 victory

Chicago has won five of six games against Cleveland already this year.

CLEVELAND (AP) — If the Chicago White are trying to send the Cleveland Indians a message, it has been received.

“You look at that team over there, they’re a little bit tougher than we are right now,” Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said after the White Sox defeated the Indians 6-5 Wednesday.

The AL Central-leading White Sox have won five of six against Cleveland in a nine-game span and 11 of 14 overall.

“To win your division, you have to fare well against the teams in your division,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “So far, so good. I won’t get cocky, but I definitely feel better about the ball club.”

Carlos Quentin drove in three runs, including a go-ahead, two-run double in a three-run seventh inning.

Gavin Floyd (5-3) allowed two runs in the first, then retired 15 of 17 hitters before the Indians scored three times to take a 5-3 lead in the sixth. Floyd gave up five runs — four earned — and eight hits in six innings with seven strikeouts.

Bobby Jenks pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 16 chances, escaping a second-and-third, one-out jam when Ben Francisco and Victor Martinez popped out.

“To have runners on second and third, it was a big win for us,” Guillen said. “Bobby did a great job.”

Trailing by two runs, the White Sox surged ahead in the seventh after third baseman Andy Marte couldn’t handle Joe Crede’s leadoff grounder for an error.

Alexei Ramirez singled off Rafael Perez and, one out later, A.J. Pierzynski hit a run-scoring double off Rafael Betancourt (1-3).

Quentin, who has driven in 23 runs in his last 20 games, followed with a double into the left-field corner.

Cleveland has lost 10 of 12, dropping 51‚Ñ2 games back in the division. Wedge once again expressed his displeasure with the way his team is playing.

“Until we start making adjustments, [opposing teams] are going to keep sticking it to us,” he said. “It’s up to them to get it done. There can be no excuses.”

Jake Westbrook, activated from the disabled list before the game, allowed three runs and five hits in five innings. He hadn’t pitched for the Indians since April 19 because of a strained left muscle in the rib area.