There are certain situations that help ballclubs evaluate a player’s progress and place within the plans. Corey Kluber received a test in big league damage control on Tuesday afternoon and the Indians rookie passed with flying colors.
After the White Sox launched back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning, threatening to steal the game’s momentum, Kluber settled down and led Cleveland to a 4-3 victory at U.S. Cellular Field. It was an impressive performance by a pitcher who is being viewed as a possible option for the rotation next season.
“I think he grew a little as a pitcher today,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “That’s what you’re looking for right there.”
It marked the sixth loss in the past seven games for Chicago, which is in a fight with Detroit for the rights to the American League Central crown.
Kluber has had a hand in the division race, considering his two wins this month have come against the Tigers and White Sox. In Tuesday’s victory, Tribe first baseman Russ Canzler got into the act by going 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run.
The White Sox and Indians will square off four more times down the stretch.
“It’s fun right now for us trying to play the spoiler role,” Canzler said. “If we keep playing good baseball, the next week is going to be a lot of fun.”
For the 26-year-old Kluber, the win was his second in 11 outings for the Indians (64-91) this season. The right-hander has endured an up-and-down stay in the big leagues — Kluber has six starts with five innings or fewer logged to go along with five quality starts — since being promoted from Triple-A Columbus in early August.
On Tuesday, Cleveland’s offense spotted him a four-run lead with a solid showing against Chicago lefty Francisco Liriano. Canzler launched a solo home run off Liriano in the second inning and later doubled to help ignite a three-run push for the Tribe in the fourth inning.
Liriano (6-12) took the loss after yielding four runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.
The first run in the fourth came on a would-be double-play grounder from Thomas Neal, who chopped a pitch from Liriano to second baseman Gordon Beckham. Neal narrowly beat the throw to first, though, and Cleveland went on to add two more runs on base hits from Ezequiel Carrera and Shin-Soo Choo.
“It happens,” White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. “Have to get the next guy. We didn’t do that and it led to two more runs. That’s it. I didn’t see a replay, but I know it was close. That’s the way it goes and you just have to get the next guy.”
In the fifth inning, Pierzynski put the White Sox (82-72) on the board by belting an 0-1 offering from Kluber out to right field for his 27th home run. After that leadoff shot, Dayan Viciedo sent a 1-1 pitch deep to left for his 22nd homer, trimming the Tribe’s lead to 4-2.
Indians pitching coach Ruben Niebla jogged to the mound for a brief pep talk, and Kluber focused on finding a way not to cave under the pressure.
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