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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CLEVELAND -- Forget brooms, the Chicago White Sox used mops
to finish off a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians.
|  | | White Sox pitcher Sean Lowe, left, and first baseman Paul Konerko give each other a high-five after the White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 11-4 Wednesday at Jacobs Field in Cleveland. |
Jeff Abbott went 3-for-5 with three RBIs as Chicago opened a
five-game lead over second-place Cleveland in the AL Central with a
soggy 11-4 victory Wednesday night.
Chicago waited through a 2-hour, 7-minute rain delay before
winning for the 12th time in 14 games to become the AL's first
40-win team.
With their first sweep at Jacobs Field and first in Cleveland
since they shut down old Cleveland Stadium with a sweep seven years
ago, the White Sox have their largest division lead since winning
the AL West by eight games in 1993.
"It was a good series for us," Sox manager Jerry Manuel said.
"We know they weren't at full strength and that could have played
a part in it. But we came in here and showed we could play good
baseball and win."
Magglio Ordonez and Paul Konerko drove in two runs apiece as the
White Sox scored 10 runs in the first two innings before the rain
came.
Rookie Kevin Beirne (1-0) pitched a scoreless 3 2-3 innings for
his first major league win. Beirne and two other relievers shut out
the Indians on two hits for the final seven innings.
"This was huge," said Tony Graffanino, who had three hits and
two RBIs. "So were the last two nights. We played with confidence
and feel like we can play with anybody in this league."
It won't get any easier for the White Sox. Chicago heads to New
York for a four games with the Yankees before returning home for
four with the Indiana and three more with the defending World
Series champions. "We jumped over the first hurdle and now we have a few more to
go," Manuel said.
David Justice hit a three-run homer and Jim Thome had a solo
shot for Cleveland, which dropped to 15-15 at home this season.
The Indians, who are now farther out of first then they've been
since '93, are even starting to hear it from their loyal fans. In
the fifth inning, Enrique Wilson forgot there was only one out and
got doubled up at first when he went to second on an infield pop.
"This was a big series, but at the same time there are 100
ballgames to play," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. "What
this means is they have a five-game lead and we have to play hard
to catch up. We've got to get the troops back together and play."
The lone bright spot for Cleveland was right-hander Willie
Martinez, who pitched three strong innings in his major league
debut.
Trailing 10-4 after two innings, Cleveland's players were
probably praying for a rainout during the long delay. After all,
it's been raining on them all year. Cleveland's pitching staff is in shambles because of injuries,
forcing Manuel to start rookie Jim Brower (1-1) in the team's most
important game to date this season. Six of the seven pitchers the Indians used began this season in
the minors.
Brower couldn't get out of the second inning as the Indians lost
their fourth straight and dropped to 1-5 against the White Sox this
season. Chicago didn't hit the ball very hard against Brower in the
first but made each one count. They took advantage of two walks and
scored five runs with a two-out rally, started by Konerko's two-run
single.
Chris Singleton followed with an infield single, Abbott singled
and Tony Graffanino followed by rolling a two-run base hit to left,
pushing Chicago's lead to 5-0.
The Indians looked like they were right back in it when Justice
hit a three-run homer and Thome followed with a long homer to make
it 5-4 in the bottom of the first.
But Chicago scored another five runs in the second on five hits.
Ordonez had a two-run double off Jamie Brewington and Abbott
singled home two more runs in the inning. Meanwhile, White Sox starter Kip Wells gave up three earned runs in two
innings.
Game notes
Abbott has three three-RBI games this month. ... Indians
manager Charlie Manuel said GM John Hart has been shopping for a
left-handed reliever. Cleveland, which is without a lefty in its
bullpen, has three lefty relievers at Buffalo, but Manuel said he's
been told none are ready to make the jump. ... Cleveland shortstop
Omar Vizquel, who got the night off because of his hitting
problems, has not committed an error in 274 total chances this
season or in his last 64 games dating to last September. He's in an
8-for-47 slump at the plate. ... The Sox have been in first place
for 57 straight days. It's their longest reign atop any division
since 1993 when they led the AL West for 105 straight days.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Chi. White Sox Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
RECAPS
NY Yankees 2
Boston 1
Kansas City 5
Seattle 4
Chi. White Sox 11
Cleveland 4
Toronto 8
Detroit 1
Tampa Bay 3
Anaheim 2
Baltimore 11
Texas 10
Oakland 9
Minnesota 6
NY Mets 10
Chicago Cubs 8
San Francisco 6
Cincinnati 2
Atlanta 8
Pittsburgh 4
Florida 8
Philadelphia 1
Milwaukee 11
Montreal 2
Houston 8
Colorado 4
Arizona 5
Los Angeles 1
St. Louis 3
San Diego 1
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