Indians, White Sox split; Bucs sweep Cubs at Wrigley

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND — Eric Wedge’s final home game was like so many others this season: empty seats, a young lineup and a loss.

Mark Buehrle pitched six shutout innings and Paul Konerko drove in the only run as the Chicago White Sox beat Cleveland 1-0 to split a season-ending doubleheader Wednesday night, ending Wedge’s seven-year managerial run at home with the Indians.

Wedge’s firing — and the dismissal of his coaching staff — was announced a few hours before the opener, won by the Indians 5-1. Despite being let go with six games left, the dedicated Wedge wanted to finish what has been one of the most disappointing seasons in recent team history.

In the second game, Buehrle (13-10) outdueled Justin Masterson (4-10) and sent Wedge off on a final road trip to Boston’s Fenway Park, where the Indians played for the AL title just two years ago, with another tough loss to ponder.

It’s been that way all year for a club that was expected to contend in the AL Central but crashed instead.

Cleveland finished 35-46 at Progressive Field, the club’s worst mark at home since 1991 when the Indians lost a franchise-record 105 games and finished at the bottom of the East. The Indians also drew 1,766,242 fans, their lowest total since 1992 when they were at the old Municipal Stadium.

Buehrle allowed three hits — two in the first — and struck out three in one of his best performances since his perfect game on July 23.

Masterson was better. He struck out 12, the most by a Cleveland right-hander since Bartolo Colon fanned 13 at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 18, 2000. Masterson, who came over in a deadline deal with Boston, gave up four hits in his first career complete game.

Pirates 4, Cubs 0 Pirates 8, Cubs 2

CHICAGO — Ryan Doumit had four hits and four RBIs to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 8-2 Wednesday night for a doubleheader sweep.

Jeff Karstens tossed five innings for the second victory by a no-name Pittsburgh pitcher over a high-priced Cubs starter on the day. A few hours before Karstens beat Carlos Zambrano, Charlie Morton threw a four-hitter in a 4-0 victory over Ted Lilly.

Doumit hit his 10th homer to help Pittsburgh complete its first doubleheader sweep at Wrigley Field since June 20, 1983.