Indians 4, White Sox 3
Corey Kluber pitched seven strong innings and Russ Canzler homered as visiting Cleveland dealt a blow to Chicago’s playoff chances.
Kluber (2-4) allowed two runs on four hits while walking three and striking out four to snap a three-start winless streak. Ezequiel Carrera and Shin-Soo Choo each singled in a run in a three-run fourth inning for the Indians, who have won two of three.
The White Sox fell for the sixth time in the last seven games and dropped into a tie with the Detroit Tigers atop the American League Central after the Tigers blanked the Kansas City Royals 2-0.
Canzler led off the second and blasted a first-pitch fastball from Francisco Liriano (6-12) into the Chicago bullpen in left field to open the scoring. Cleveland knocked Liriano out in the fourth, loading the bases on a pair of walks and a double before Thomas Neal recorded an RBI groundout and Carrerra and Choo followed with run-scoring singles.
Chicago got back into it with back-to-back solo homers from A.J. Pierzynski and Dayan Viciedo leading off the fifth but Kluber retired nine of the next 10 batters to keep the Indians ahead. Chris Perez yielded a solo homer to Paul Konerko leading off the ninth and a pair of two-out walks before retiring Gordon Beckham to lock up his 37th save.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The White Sox will give LHP Hector Santiago a spot start Wednesday, pushing RHP Jake Peavy back to Thursday against Tampa Bay. … Chicago DH Adam Dunn went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts a day after his two home runs keyed a 5-4 victory in the series opener. … Indians RHP Roberto Hernandez (ankle) will throw a simulated game Wednesday.