Even with a third loss in four games at U.S. Cellular Field, the Indians still moved closer to their first American League Central title since 2007 on Thursday afternoon.
The White Sox claimed a 2-1 walk-off victory to complete the series win by pushing a run across against Bryan Shaw on Carlos Sanchez’s single to right to bring home pinch-runner Leury Garcia. It was the seventh walk-off win this season for Chicago, and the second of Sanchez’s career.
“It was really fun when you help your team win games. I enjoyed that moment a lot,” Sanchez said. “I was looking for a fastball away, but it was really hard to see. I just tried to hit that ball, and I know Leury can run.”
That run scored moments after the Indians wasted a runner-on-third, one-out situation in the top of the frame, when David Robertson fanned pinch-hitter Francisco Lindor and leadoff man Coco Crisp. But with the Tigers suffering a 5-1 loss to Minnesota in Detroit, the Tribe’s magic number to clinch the division was reduced to 11 with Cleveland holding a six-game lead in the division.
James Shields started the series finale and produced one of his best games as a member of the White Sox, striking out eight and walking three over six innings and 100 pitches. The right-hander allowed one run in the third on a Jose Ramirez sacrifice fly, but he stranded the bases loaded. Shields also stranded Mike Napoli at third with one out in the second by striking out Tyler Naquin looking and retiring Abraham Almonte on a grounder to first.
“For the most part, I think today overall was pretty good,” Shields said. “Stayed consistent with getting ahead of hitters besides in the third inning there. But other than that, it was pretty good.”
Mike Clevinger was the first of four pitchers for the Indians, working four innings and throwing 85 pitches. Clevinger’s lone blemish came on Jose Abreu’s 24th home run leading off the fourth. It came on a 2-2 pitch and gave Abreu 95 RBIs for the season.
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