Beckham powers White Sox past Indians
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Gordon Beckham hit a home run and drove in two runs while collecting three hits, as the Chicago White Sox downed the Cleveland Indians, 7-2, in the opener of a three-game set Tuesday.
A.J. Pierzynski also homered and six different White Sox recorded at least one RBI, as Chicago won its second straight on the heels of a five-game skid.
Chris Sale (3-1) allowed one run on just three hits and one walk while striking out three over six frames to post the win.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Our hitters are taking advantage of every opportunity. I'm just trying to pull my weight," Sale said.
Ubaldo Jimenez (2-2) was tagged for seven runs -- four earned -- on eight hits and six walks in 4 2/3 innings. Shelley Duncan doubled, homered and scored twice in a losing effort, Cleveland's fourth in six tries.
"He's working out some mechanical issues and we saw some progress today but he still didn't throw enough strikes...and we didn't help him out at all," said Indians manager Manny Acta.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A pair of doubles by Duncan and Jason Kipnis in the top of the second gave Cleveland 1-0 lead.
But Pierzynski got the run right back in the home half, blasting an 0-2 pitch into the bullpen in right-center.
Beckham opened the scoring in a four-run third with a lead-off homer to left-center, his first of the year.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A double, an error and a walk then loaded the bases for Paul Konerko, who was issued a free pass that allowed Alejandro De Aza to trot home. After Pierzynski popped out, Alex Rios brought home Alexei Ramirez on a fielder's choice and Dayan Viciedo plated Adam Dunn on an infield single.
Ramirez tacked on a run for Chicago in the fourth with a single to score De Aza, and Beckham knocked in another in the fifth.
Duncan hit a center-field solo shot in the seventh to end Cleveland's 11-game homerless drought.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chicago reliever Hector Santiago walked two around a single in the ninth to load the bases with two outs, but got Lou Marson to hit into a game-ending groundout.
Game Notes
Cleveland's run of 11 games with a home run was the longest for the club since going 14 games without a home run in 1983...The White Sox have won all three meetings this season...Wednesday's middle test features Josh Tomlin (1-2) for Cleveland against Phillip Humber (1-1).