Tribe’s Masterson blanks White Sox, 1-0

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

On a pitching staff that’s been battered and bruised, Justin Masterson is performing like an ace.

Cleveland’s right-hander threw nine shutout innings and Nick Swisher’s two-out RBI single in the ninth gave the Indians a 1-0 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday.

Masterson, who has three of Cleveland’s four wins, extended his consecutive scoreless innings streak to a career-high 19. He hasn’t allowed a run since the third inning on opening day against Toronto and pitched seven scoreless in his second start against Tampa Bay.

“It’s going to end sometime, right?” Masterson said of his scoreless innings streak. “You have to go out and finish off innings, which is something I’m trying to do.”

“It would have been a shame for us to not go out and get Masty that win,” said Swisher, who hit the first pitch from reliever Jesse Crain to score Michael Bourn with the game’s only run.

The Indians were outscored 25-7 in losing the first two games of a series to the Yankees. Scheduled games Wednesday and Thursday were postponed by rain, allowing manager Terry Francona to come back with Masterson.

The Indians’ pitching staff had a 5.58 ERA through the first eight games and had allowed 16 home runs.

“It was fun,” Francona said. “It would have been more fun if we had (scored) nine, but it was really good.”

White Sox manager Robin Ventura was impressed with Masterson’s performance.

“This is as good as I think I’ve ever seen him,” Ventura said. “He was great today. And that’s the story — he was great. His ball was moving all over the place.”

Masterson (3-0) retired the side in order in the ninth and was given a standing ovation by the crowd of 11,864. That momentum carried into the bottom of the inning when Bourn started the rally with a one-out double off Crain (0-1).

Bourn’s blooper landed near the left field line and he beat the throw to second base. After Asdrubal Cabrera’s groundout moved Bourn to third, Crain fell behind Jason Kipnis in the count 3-0 before an intentional walk was issued.

Swisher, one of the Indians’ key offseason additions, hit the first pitch into right field and was mobbed by his teammates as the Indians won for the first time in three home games despite managing only three hits.

“The two stars of the game were Justin Masterson and Jason Kipnis,” Swisher said.

Masterson and Jose Quintana engaged in a pitchers’ duel. Masterson allowed five hits and struck out seven. Quintana held the Indians to one hit in seven innings with seven strikeouts.

Masterson was assisted by his defense. Alex Rios hit a ball off the wall with two outs in the first, but was thrown out trying for a double by left fielder Michael Brantley.

Alexei Ramirez singled to lead off the sixth, but was thrown out attempting to steal second by catcher Yan Gomes. Paul Konerko doubled with two outs in the seventh — becoming Chicago’s first batter to reach second — but Dayan Viciedo struck out.

Conor Gillaspie started the eighth with a double over the head of Brantley, who nearly made a running catch in front of the wall. Ramirez fouled off a bunt attempt that was caught by Gomes behind home plate. After a groundout moved Gillaspie to third, Masterson struck out Alejandro De Aza to end the inning.

“My defense was great for me,” Masterson said. “I’m trying to stay under control and it really makes a difference when your defense makes those kinds of plays.”