Tribe’s Carrasco wins in first start since getting hit in face

Associated Press

CHICAGO

Carlos Carrasco struck out eight in five innings in his first start since being hit in the face by a line drive and Carlos Santana and David Murphy smacked solo home runs as the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 6-2 on Tuesday night.

The victory snapped a two-game losing streak on a cold night at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field. Temperatures slipped into the lower 40s with wind chills in the 30s.

Carrasco (2-1) allowed one earned run on four hits and no walks, looking strong a week after White Sox outfielder Melky Cabrera’s liner struck him in the first inning of a 4-1 loss last Tuesday. The right hander improved to 1-1 against Chicago this season.

White Sox starter Hector Noesi (0-2) lasted 52/3 innings and departed with runners on first and third for Carlos Rodon, who was making his major league debut.

Rodon gave up a two-run single to pinch hitter Ryan Raburn in the sixth and allowed two more runs in the seventh.

Seven Cleveland pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts.

Chicago’s first run came on first baseman Jose Abreu’s fourth home run.

Santana replied with a leadoff homer to right in the second for a 1-1 tie. His third home run of the season came on a full count.

Murphy added a solo shot to right for a 2-1 Indians lead in the fifth.

Cleveland made it 4-1 when Rodon loaded the bases with a walk to Brandon Moss. Raburn then lined a two-run, pinch-hit single to left to score Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley.

Rodon also struggled in the seventh as the Indians opened a 6-1 lead. He gave up two walks and a sacrifice fly to deep right by Kipnis that scored catcher Roberto Perez. Brantley followed with a two-out single to center that scored Jose Ramirez.

The Indians retired 15 of 16 White Sox batters between the third and eighth, when Adam Eaton singled with two out as Chicago mounted its most serious threat.

Cleveland reliever Zach McAllister worked two-thirds of the inning, giving up three straight hits including Abreu’s RBI base hit to score Eaton.

Left hander Nick Hagadone entered and Chicago designated hitter Adam LaRoche reached on an error by shortstop Jose Ramirez to load the bases. But Cleveland right-hander Brian Shaw struck out Avisail Garcia to end the threat.

UP NEXT

White Sox RHP Jeff Samardzija (0-1, 4.29 ERA) makes his fourth start in today’s series finale. Samardzija is 1-1 in six all-time starts against Cleveland. RHP Corey Kluber (0-1, 2.84 ERA) makes his fourth start. The 2014 AL Cy Young Award winner is 2-1 in 10 appearances against Chicago.