Kluber’s five-hitter leads Indians

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Corey Kluber pitched a five-hitter to win for the first time in a month, rookie Jose Ramirez hit a go-ahead triple in a two-run seventh inning and the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 Saturday night.

Kluber (14-9) allowed an unearned run, struck out eight and walked none in his third big league complete game — all this season. He had been 0-3 in four starts since winning at the New York Yankees on Aug. 9 and in his previous start allowed a career-high three homers in a 12-1 loss to Detroit on Monday.

Third-place Cleveland closed within five games of first-place Kansas City in the AL Central. The Indians are four games back of Seattle, which played later Saturday, for the AL’s second wild card.

White Sox starter Jose Quintana allowed one run and seven hits in six innings, struck out seven and walked one.

With the score 1-1, Michael Bourn walked with one out in the seventh against Zach Putnam (4-3) after fouling off a pair of full-count pitches and scored when Ramirez tripled off the wall in right-center. Four pitchers later, Ramirez came home on Michael Brantley’s single.

Chicago, which has lost 13 of 17, threatened when Conor Gillaspie singled with one out in the ninth. After Avisail Garcia hit into a forceout, Kluber struck out Andy Wilkins on a curveball.

Kluber retired his first seven hitters before Jordan Danks singled off the glove of a leaping Jason Kipnis at secod base. Danks stole second and scored when first baseman Jesus Aguilar allowed Adam Eaton’s grounder to bounce off his glove and into short right field for an error.

Carlos Santana’s leadoff homer in the fourth tied the game, and Cleveland loaded the bases with one out in the fifth. Quintana retired Santana on a foulout and struck out Yan Gomes.

PIRATES TAKE TWO FROM CHICAGO CUBS

CHICAGO

Francisco Liriano struck out nine in six innings to lift the Pirates in the nighcap.

The Pirates also got a 5-3 victory in 11 innings in the resumption of the suspended series opener. Josh Harrison hit a tiebreaking RBI single and finished with four hits.

Pittsburgh had lost four in a row before the pair of victories at Wrigley Field. It began the day in third in the NL Central, five back of the Cardinals, and two games behind in the wild-card race.

Andrew McCutchen had three hits in the second game for the Pirates, who improved to 11-4 against the Cubs this year. Jordy Mercer hit an RBI single in the first and a leadoff homer in the ninth.

Liriano (4-10) allowed three hits and walked two in his first win since July 29. The veteran left-hander went 0-3 with a 3.75 ERA in six August starts.

Justin Wilson, Jared Hughes and Brandon Cumpton each pitched an inning to complete the six-hitter.

Felix Doubront (1-1) pitched five innings in his second game with the Cubs. The lefty, who was acquired in a July 30 trade with Boston, gave up two runs and five hits.

Friday’s series opener was suspended by rain with one out in the top of the seventh inning.

Harrison drove in two runs in the first game, but the All-Star infielder was injured while making an over-the shoulder catch in short center field in the bottom of the 11th inning. He was out of the lineup for the rest of the day.