Indians split doubleheader with White Sox
CHICAGO -- Cody Anderson earned his first win and the Cleveland Indians hit three home runs to split a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox with a 5-1 win in the second game on Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
Anderson, called up from Triple-A Columbus as the Indians' 26th man for the doubleheader, allowed just one run in seven innings for the win. Carrying an inflated 7.99 ERA into the game, Anderson struck out nine and walked none in his third stint with Cleveland this season.
It was his third career start against the White Sox and second this season, after allowing two runs in six innings for a no-decision April 9 in Chicago's 7-3 win.
Rajai Davis, Juan Uribe and Jose Ramirez each hit home runs to lead the way offensively, with Ramirez's homer giving him two for the day and three on the season. Cleveland scored once in the second and twice in both the fifth and seventh off Chicago starter Erik Johnson (0-2), who allowed five runs in 6 2/3 innings.
Bryan Shaw pitched a scoreless eighth and Cody Allen worked the ninth for Cleveland.
Todd Frazier went 2-for-4 with a double and Melky Cabrera went 2-for-4 to lead the White Sox (27-19), who retained their 2 1/2 game lead in the AL Central with the split against the second-place Indians (23-20).
Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Ramirez's solo homer, which was his second of the doubleheader. Chicago tied it 1-1 on back-to-back hits with two outs in the third, including a double by Todd Frazier, but the Indians went back in front 3-1 in the fifth on Davis' two-run homer off Johnson with two outs.
The White Sox won the first game 7-6 after getting home runs from Brett Lawrie and Frazier, plus a six solid innings out of starter Mat Latos, who improved to 6-1 on the season.
NOTES: The first game of Monday's doubleheader between Cleveland and Chicago was the 18,000th game in the Indians' history. The second game was the 18,000th game in White Sox history. According to STATS, Inc., it's the first time in major league history two teams playing each other have reached milestone games on the same day. ... Chicago recalled RHP Tommy Kahnle from Triple-A Charlotte on Monday as their 26th man. Kahnle, 26, was active for both games against the Indians. ... Following the first game, Chicago recalled RHP Erik Johnson and optioned 2B Carlos Sanchez to Triple-A Charlotte. Johnson started the second game. ... The Indians recalled RHP Cody Anderson from Triple-A Columbus as their 26th man, and he started the second game. ... Cleveland placed RHP Joba Chamberlain (left intercostal strain on the 15-day disabled list Monday and recalled LHP Ryan Merritt from Triple-A Columbus. ... Indians RHP Carlos Carrasco (left hamstring strain) threw a three-inning simulated game followed by 10 more pitches in the bullpen. He will make a three-inning rehab start May 28 with Low-A Lake County. ... LF Michael Brantley (right rotator cuff) will start swinging a bat Tuesday and be re-evaluated after Cleveland returns home following this series.