White Sox avoid sweep by Indians

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Indians White Sox

Chicago needed the 4-2 win to stay alive in the AL Central race.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Following his team’s 4-2 win over Cleveland on Wednesday, Ozzie Guillen leaned back in his chair and breathed a sigh of relief.

“We needed this one, man,” he said.

The Chicago White Sox manager wasn’t kidding. The White Sox came into the game having lost five of six, and were tied with Minnesota atop the AL Central.

Nick Swisher and Alexei Ramirez homered to help the White Sox, playing without five regulars, avert a three-game sweep.

“It was an important game,” starter Javier Vazquez said. “If we want to get to the playoffs, we have to win.”

Guillen thought Wednesday’s game was so important that he went to closer Bobby Jenks for a save that required getting more than three outs, something he hasn’t done during the regular season since Sept. 13, 2005.

Jenks entered with one out in the eighth and runners on first and third, getting Ryan Garko to hit into a double play. After allowing a leadoff single to Jamey Carroll in the ninth, he got Kelly Shoppach to hit into a double play and struck out Asdrubal Cabrera to end the game.

“I don’t like doing that,” Guillen said. “I did it because we needed it and we have the day off [today]. We gambled a little bit. The two double plays helped us.”

Jenks recorded his 28th save in 31 opportunities.

“I’ve been going one inning all year so I’m still fresh,” he said. “I wasn’t surprised. We’ve been talking about this for about a week.”

Jenks came in after one-out singles by Ben Francisco and Shin-Soo Choo off Matt Thornton. Garko bounced the second pitch to third baseman Juan Uribe, who started the double play.

“It was a sinker in,” Jenks said. “It was probably the biggest pitch of the game.”

Vazquez (11-12) allowed two runs in six innings.

The Indians came into this homestand on a 10-game winning streak, but were swept in three games by Seattle before the White Sox came to town. Cleveland stranded seven runners, had another runner caught stealing and was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position Wednesday.