Indians bullpen unable to hold lead against Sox

Associated Press

CHICAGO

The Cleveland Indians had overcome the 32-degree weather, the whipping wind, three errors and two wild pitches, leaving Cody Anderson in position to beat White Sox ace Chris Sale.

“I think it says a lot about Cody and his ability to manage the game and manage the weather,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “All the things that are thrown at you and we get a 3-2 lead when he left the game.”

Bryan Shaw and the bullpen couldn’t hold it, though, leaving the Indians cold and frustrated.

Avisail Garcia hit a three-run home run in the decisive seventh inning, Sale remained unbeaten and Chicago rallied past the Indians 7-3 on a frigid Saturday.

‘I wasn’t locating well, kind of leaving pitches middle, the balls were over the plate,” Shaw said. “I wasn’t attacking like I should have, and obviously we saw what happened.”

Garcia, picked off first base a day earlier in a miserable home opener for the White Sox, went the opposite way off Shaw (0-1). Melky Cabrera’s nine-pitch RBI single a batter earlier put the White Sox ahead and ended Cleveland’s chances of a third straight win.

Jose Abreu hit a solo home run and reached base four times, while Sale (2-0) allowed three runs and six hits with six strikeouts in seven innings in the White Sox’s fourth win in six games.

Sale had retired 12 straight before an infield single and Mike Napoli’s two-run homer to center in the sixth tied it. Yan Gomes’ solo shot an inning later put the Indians ahead before Chicago’s five-run seventh.

Anderson went six innings, allowing two runs and six hits in conditions not fit for baseball.

“It was pretty tough,” Anderson said, “but we knew that coming in.”

The grounds crew didn’t completely remove about an inch of overnight snow off the field until about 45 minutes before the game on a blustery, 32-degree day.

That didn’t stop both starting pitchers from wearing short sleeves. They were helped from the 13 mph wind blowing in from right field that held up numerous fly balls.