Indians' Carrasco shuts down White Sox
CHICAGO -- Carlos Carrasco allowed three hits while pitching eight scoreless innings as the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 7-0 on Saturday night to extend their winning streak to five games.
The Indians have shut out the White Sox on back-to-back nights after Corey Kluber limited them to three hits in a complete-game shutout Friday.
Carrasco (2-1) struck out eight and walked one while throwing 106 pitches. Michael Brantley, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Ramirez homered for the reigning American League champions.
Brantley's two-run shot was his third home run of the season. Ramirez hit his fifth home run, a solo shot in the ninth.
The White Sox haven't scored in 23 consecutive innings. Tyler Saladino had two of their three hits.
To add to the White Sox's offensive woes, two injuries occurred. After reliever Zach Putnam issued a leadoff walk in the seventh, he exited due to right elbow tenderness. Left fielder Melky Cabrera also left during the inning after hitting the wall while attempting to make a catch. He was removed for precautionary measures, and X-rays on his left wrist showed no fracture, the team announced. He is day-to-day.
Jacob May recorded his first career hit while pinch hitting for Cabrera in the seventh. The single ended an 0-for-26 streak.
While their offense struggled, the White Sox also got a short outing from veteran starter Mike Pelfrey (0-1).
Pelfrey was filling in for right-hander James Shields, who went on the 10-day disabled list Friday for a strained right lat.
Pelfrey was 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in two starts at Triple-A Charlotte after he signed with the White Sox as a minor league free agent. In 11 previous seasons in the majors, he was 65-91 with a 4.57 ERA with the Mets, Twins and Tigers. Detroit released him at the end of spring training.
White Sox manager Rick Renteria hoped Pelfrey could pitch five innings -- he lasted 4 1/3. He allowed four runs and four hits.
Encarnacion put the Indians ahead in the first inning with a two-run, 415-foot home run, his third of the season. Brantley scored after hitting a two-out single and stealing second.
The Indians added two unearned runs in the fifth for a 4-0 lead.
Carlos Santana singled to drive in a run after an error and a hit batter in the fifth inning, and Francisco Lindor's sacrifice fly brought in another run.
NOTES: The White Sox purchased the contract of RHP Mike Pelfrey from Triple-A Charlotte. ...The White Sox reinstated C Geovany Soto from the 10-day disabled list and moved OF Charlie Tilson to the 60-day DL before Saturday's game. Soto went on the DL April 13 for right elbow inflammation. Tilson went on the DL April 2 due to a stress reaction in his right foot. ... RHP James Shields went on the DL Friday for the first time in his career. He said his lat strain is "very mild." ... Indians manager Terry Francona said 2B Jason Kipnis may get a day off Sunday. Kipnis (strained right rotator cuff) was activated from the disabled list Friday. ... Francona celebrated his 58th birthday on Saturday.