White Sox chase Tomlin early

Akron Beacon Journal (TSN)

CLEVELAND

A poor outing by right-handed pitcher Josh Tomlin put the Indians behind the visiting Chicago White Sox in the first inning on Saturday night.

Even with home runs by Edwin Encarnacion and Carlos Santana, the Indians were unable to overcome the early deficit and lost 5-3 on a warm evening before a crowd of 31,753 at Progressive Field.

Tomlin lasted just 22/3 innings before manager Terry Francona went to the bullpen. Tomlin allowed four runs (three earned) and nine hits, with no strikeouts or walks.

The White Sox (26-34) struck for three runs in the first inning. Tim Anderson and Melky Cabrera each hit singles into the outfield to open the inning, and Jose Abreu followed with a single past Jose Ramirez at third base that scored Anderson to make it 1-0.

Tomlin (3-8) hit Avisail Garcia with a pitch and, two batters later, Matt Davidson delivered a single to score Abreu and Garcia to give the White Sox a 3-0 lead.

The White Sox added a run in the second when Leury Garcia reached base on an error by Michael Brantley and scored on a single by Cabrera.

The White Sox nearly scored another run in the inning after Abreu lined a double to left, but Brantley, shortstop Francisco Lindor and catcher Yan Gomes combined to erase Cabrera at home plate.

Dan Otero relieved Tomlin and retired four batters with help from his defense. Nick Goody worked a scoreless inning and Zach McAllister contributed two scoreless innings.

White Sox left-hander David Holmberg (1-0) pitched five innings and limited the Indians to two runs and three hits, including a two-run home run by Encarnacion. Holmberg struck out four and walked one before giving way to Chris Beck.

Encarnacion’s two-run home run over the left-center field fence in the fourth inning cut the Indians’ deficit to 4-2.

Brantley led off the inning with a double to right-center field, and two batters later Encarnacion hit an estimated 409-foot blast.

Abreu led off the White Sox fifth with a hit to left that he tried to stretch into a double, but Brantley fired the ball to Jason Kipnis, who dived to apply the tag.

Abreu slid past second base to avoid Kipnis initially, but Kipnis remained persistent to get the out. Brantley was credited with an assist, his second of the game and fifth of the season.

The Indians (30-29) got even closer in the sixth inning when Santana hit a line-drive solo home run an estimated 403 feet off Dan Jennings over the left field fence with two outs.

Encarnacion followed with a double off the left-center field wall and took third on a passed ball, but was stranded when Ramirez flied out to end the inning.

Chicago pushed across a run in the eighth inning off Bryan Shaw with a Davidson walk, a double by Yolmer Sanchez and a sacrifice fly by Kevan Smith to score pinch runner Alen Hanson.

The White Sox tried to get Sanchez home from third with a squeeze bunt, but Leury Garcia’s attempt was poor and landed in the glove of Ramirez in foul territory. Ramirez recorded the out and then fired to Lindor covering third base to end the threat.

White Sox reliever Anthony Swarzak pitched 11/3 scoreless innings and David Robertson earned his 10th save with two scoreless innings.