Abreu, big inning carry White Sox past Indians
CHICAGO -- Jose Abreu went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and the Chicago White Sox relied on a season-best, seven-run inning to pull away for an 8-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.
Todd Frazier and Carlos Sanchez also drove in two runs apiece as the White Sox erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning. Chicago (70-74) won for the fifth time in its past seven games.
Brandon Guyer finished 1-for-2 with a solo home run to lead the Indians. Jason Kipnis added a pair of doubles for Cleveland (83-61), which dropped its second straight game.
White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana (12-10) limited the Indians to one run on five hits in eight innings. He walked one and struck out six in his longest appearance since June 11.
Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer (11-7) surrendered six runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings to draw the loss. He walked one and struck out seven.
The score was even at 1 when the White Sox broke through in the sixth inning to seize an 8-1 lead. Abreu started the outburst with a line-drive single to center field that drove in Adam Eaton. Two batters later, Frazier ripped a two-run single to center field to make it 4-1.
Indians manager Terry Francona pulled Bauer and brought in right-hander Dan Otero from the bullpen. The move did little to stop Chicago's barrage. Avisail Garcia singled to center field to drive in Abreu. Sanchez followed with a two-run triple down the right-field line to make it 7-1. Eaton hit a ground-rule double to right-center field to cap the barrage and prompt another pitching change by Francona.
Chicago ended the inning with seven runs on seven hits, both of which were team highs for the season.
The White Sox grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Bauer jammed Abreu with an inside fastball, but Abreu muscled a fly ball into shallow right field to drive in Adam Eaton.
Cleveland evened the score at 1 in the second inning on a solo shot by Brandon Guyer. Quintana delivered a breaking ball over the plate, and Guyer pulled it over the left-field wall for his ninth home run. That marked a career high for the 30-year-old role player, who hit eight home runs with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015.
NOTES: White Sox DH Justin Morneau was held out of the starting lineup because of soreness in his neck. The 35-year-old joined the team after the All-Star break and is hitting .256 with five home runs and 22 RBIs in 48 games. "We're just going to give it today and see how he feels (Wednesday)," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. ... Indians OF Abraham Almonte returned the starting lineup after sitting out the series opener. Almonte, 27, entered Tuesday hitting .283 with one home run and 21 RBIs in 52 games. ... White Sox 3B Carlos Sanchez started for the first time in eight games. To replace Morneau, Todd Frazier shifted from third base to first base, and Jose Abreu moved from first base to designated hitter. ... Indians RHP Josh Tomlin is scheduled to start Wednesday for the first time since Aug. 30.