Marcum steers Tribe victory over White Sox
CHICAGO -- With at least one baserunner in 15 of the last 16 innings, the Indians finally saw results in a 4-3 victory over the White Sox on Wednesday night. A three-run seventh inning gave Cleveland the run support it needed against a Chicago team that has scored six runs in the first three games of the series.
Indians closer Cody Allen gave up one run in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI single from Alexei Ramirez, but he struck out pinch-hitter J.B. Shuck with the bases loaded to escape the jam and earn his eighth save.
Starter Shaun Marcum earned the win for the Indians in his first start since 2013, after missing all of last season as he recovered from surgery. Marcum went 6 2/3, struck out six and didn't walk a single batter while allowing two runs and four hits.
Video: CLE@CWS: Allen fans Shuck to seal eighth save
"We're excited to win, but it's hard not to pull for a guy who's gone through what he has," said Indians manager Terry Francona. "I thought he really pitched. He's not gonna break that radar gun, but he threw in enough to get them off that fastball. He threw a little slider, changeup and he broke out the breaking ball the third time through. Just really a good feel for pitching."
Reliever Dan Jennings (0-1) took the loss after he surrendered three runs in the seventh inning. Indians shortstop Jose Ramirez reached base four times to spark the offense, and left fielder Michael Brantley added a two-run double in the decisive rally.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Round trips: Despite sitting second to last in home runs, the White Sox belted two on Wednesday night. Center fielder Adam Eaton broke a scoreless tie in the third when he hit his first home run to right field. Third baseman Conor Gillaspie also hit one out to right field with his blast in the seventh.
Video: CLE@CWS: Gillaspie's solo homer cuts deficit
Patience pays: The Indians didn't square up many balls against White Sox starter Carlos Rodon, but were able to push across a run in the sixth by letting the hard-throwing lefty get himself in trouble. Ramirez led off with a walk and stole second, and one out later, Ryan Raburn walked to put two on. Nick Swisher followed with a single to load the bases and Mike Aviles drove in the run with a sacrifice fly.
Video: CLE@CWS: Aviles' sac fly ties it up in 6th
Living on the edge: Rodon still had issues with his command Wednesday night, walking five batters, but unlike before, he pitched himself out of multiple jams. In both the third and fourth inning, Rodon walked the second batter, only to record a double play the very next at-bat. He escaped the sixth inning with only one run after forcing a flyout with runners on first and second.
"The way he fought back and got out of that inning was a positive," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "As he goes along, he's going to get better with command and things like that. The stuff is there, definitely. But cleaning it up, being able to get through that without giving the other team opportunities, you've got to make them beat you. You can't give them stuff like that." More >
Video: CLE@CWS: Rodon allows one run through six innings
Seventh heaven: Jennings followed Rodon and the Indians immediately put up a three-spot in the seventh. Ramirez had a run-scoring single and Brantley followed with the big blow, a two-run double to make it 4-1.
"We talk about all the time. If you give a team an extra out, you see what can happen," Francona said. "Fortunately, tonight it helped us. We got a bunt down and they didn't make the play and we made 'em pay for it. We've seen it happen the other way, too."
Video: CLE@CWS: Brantley knocks in two with double to right
QUOTABLE
"I think the innings he got at Triple-A are really good for him. He's stretched out enough now and he can bounce back now, so he should have the ability to not only pitch a game but pitch multiple games and win." -- Francona, before Marcum's outing
"I feel like I had a child because everyone is texting me, congratulating me. Abreu hits two in a week and nobody bats an eye. I hit one and it's like I have a child. I should have a home run shower and everything. It's fun to do that every now and again." -- Eaton, on his first home run
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Eaton's home run was his first since April 4, 2014, also against the Indians. The last time he touched all bases against someone other than the Indians came when he was with Arizona on Sept. 3, 2013, against the Blue Jays.
Video: CLE@CWS: Eaton homers to put White Sox ahead early
AND ANOTHER ONE
Previously 0-for-3, White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu took advantage of his last plate appearance in the ninth inning with a single to extend his hitting streak to 15 games. More >
Video: CLE@CWS: Abreu extends hitting streak to 15 games
WHAT'S NEXT
Indians: Right-hander Danny Salazar (4-1, 4.06 ERA) goes in the finale of the four-game series with first pitch Thursday night at 8:10 p.m. ET. Salazar is coming off a no-decision last Saturday against the Rangers when he allowed five earned runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.
White Sox: Chicago sends a fourth straight lefty to the mound for Thursday night's 7:10 p.m. CT series finale as starter John Danks looks to continue his streak of quality starts. Danks (2-3, 4.66) has allowed three runs over his last two starts, both of which went seven innings.
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