Kipnis, Kluber lead Indians past White Sox
CLEVELAND -- Jason Kipnis had three hits and Corey Kluber outpitched Jose Quintana as the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 on Tuesday at Progressive Field.
The Indians scored single runs in the first, third and seventh innings, and Kluber and two relievers made it stand up. Andrew Miller retired all six batters he faced in the seventh and eighth innings, and closer Cody Allen pitched the ninth to pick up his 23rd save.
Kluber (13-8) pitched six innings, allowing one run and seven hits, with seven strikeouts and two walks. In seven starts since his last loss July 3, Kluber is 5-0 with a 1.65 ERA.
Quintana (9-9) also pitched six innings, allowing two runs and seven hits, with three strikeouts and two walks.
Chicago's only run came on a home run by Justin Morneau in the sixth inning.
Leading 2-1, the Indians scored an insurance run in the seventh inning. Roberto Perez led off with a double into the left-center field gap off reliever Matt Albers. Perez went to third on a Rajai Davis groundout.
Left-hander Dan Jennings was brought in from the bullpen by Chicago manager Robin Ventura to face the left handed-hitting Kipnis. But Kipnis lined Jennings' first pitch to right field for a single, scoring Perez and giving the Indians a 3-1 lead.
Cleveland reached Quintana for a run in the first inning. With one out, Kipnis doubled into the left-center field gap. Kipnis scored when Francisco Lindor doubled into the same gap, giving the Indians a 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, Davis led off with a walk. He was picked off first, so he ran to second. First baseman Jose Abreu threw to shortstop Tim Anderson, but Davis dove around the attempted tag and was safe, with his league-leading 33rd stolen base.
Quintana retired the next two batters, but Mike Napoli ripped a single down the left field line, scoring Davis and pushing Cleveland's lead to 2-0.
The White Sox made Kluber work in the early going. They had base runners in each of the first five innings, but Kluber held them scoreless on five hits, three of them doubles.
NOTES: Indians OF Michael Brantley underwent successful surgery Monday to address chronic biceps tendinitis in his right shoulder. Brantley, who missed virtually all of the 2016 season because of setbacks in his rehab from labrum surgery last November, is expected to make a full recovery in four months. ... Indians OF Rajai Davis, 35, leads the American League in stolen bases. Davis could become only the third player in AL history to lead the league in steals at age 35 or older. The last to do it was Oakland's Rickey Henderson, who had 66 in 1998 at age 39. The only other player to accomplish the feat was Eddie Collins of the White Sox, in 1924 at age 37 and 1923 at age 36. ... The White Sox will recall RHP Anthony Ranaudo from Triple-A Charlotte to start Wednesday night versus Cleveland. Ranaudo posted a 6-5 mark with a 3.35 ERA in 16 starts with Triple-A. ... Chicago OF Adam Eaton leads the majors with 17 outfield assists. He is on a pace for 24, which would be the most by a White Sox OF since Bibb Falk's 26 in 1924.