Danny Salazar fans 9, Indians beat White Sox 3-1

9/13/2013

CHICAGO — Danny Salazar struck out nine in 3 2-3 innings, Ryan Raburn hit an RBI double and the Cleveland Indians beat the White Sox 3-1 today, beating the White Sox for the 10th time in a row this season.

Salazar’s pitch count was limited to 85, and after allowing Dayan Viciedo’s single with two outs on his 78th pitch, he was replaced by Nick Hagadone with runners on first and third. The win got Cleveland to within a game of Tampa Bay for the second AL wild card spot, before the Rays played tonight.

Bryan Shaw (4-3) threw two scoreless innings for the win.

Hector Santiago (4-9) remained winless since Aug. 18 for Chicago, going four-plus innings and giving up three runs and six hits while walking three.

Hagadone, the first of seven relievers, got pinch-hitter Josh Phegley to ground out and end the fourth. It culminated with Chris Perez earning his 24th save in 28 chances, getting Paul Konerko to fly to center with runners on first and second to end the game.

Raburn went 1 for 3 before getting removed for a pinch-hitter in the fifth, one day after playing for the third time since Aug. 18 because of a left heel injury. Raburn has 17 homers and 67 RBIs against the White Sox in 90 games, and his double in the fifth gave the Indians a 2-0 lead.

Cleveland leads the season series 13-2 and has outscored Chicago 91-49 with four games left between the teams.

Santiago’s outing was his second shortest since pitching 2 1-3 against the Indians on June 28, when he gave up five earned runs.

Santiago and the Chicago pitchers also got little support from the struggling White Sox lineup. Chicago was held to three runs or fewer for the 74th time and has scored five runs in its last four games, all losses, as the White Sox dropped their 13th of 15 and fell a season-high 31 games below .500.

Chicago’s best threat came in the seventh trailing 3-1 when Jordan Danks and Marcus Semien singled to start the inning against Cody Allen. Alexei Ramirez then lined out to short, and Allen was replaced by Marc Rzepczynski, who struck out Adam Dunn for the second out of the inning. Matt Albers relieved Rzepczynski and got Konerko to ground to third to end the frame scoreless.

And in a game that was markedly different from the Indians’ 14-3 win Thursday, they still jumped out to an early lead.

Cleveland took a 1-0 lead with two outs in the fourth when Drew Stubbs’ flare to center fell in front of Avisail Garcia, driving in Asdrubal Cabrera. Cabrera led off with a single, stole second and got to third on Mike Aviles’ fly to right before scoring.

After walking Nick Swisher and allowing a Jason Kipnis single to start the fifth, Santiago was replaced by Jake Petricka. Petricka struck out Carlos Santana swinging, but Raburn doubled down the left-field line to drive in Swisher. Petricka then walked Cabrera to load the bases before Michael Brantley’s sacrifice fly to left drove in Kipnis for a 3-0 lead.

Chicago got its first run with two outs in the fifth on Konerko’s single to center, scoring Semien.

NOTES: Cleveland RHP Justin Masterson played catch from 75 feet today, one day after throwing from 60. Masterson hasn’t pitched since Sept. 2 when he left his start against Baltimore with a strained left oblique. . White Sox LHP John Danks gave up seven runs (six earned) in four innings Thursday night to fall to 4-13. Since he’s coming off shoulder surgery, manager Robin Ventura was asked if there’s been talk of shutting down Danks now after 131 innings. “Watching him nothing looks physically wrong with him,” Ventura said, “so right now I’d just rather have him pitch.” . Cleveland is carrying 15 relief pitchers, and Francona was asked if it’s hard to restrain himself from immediately going to the bullpen when a starter first falters. “I think, when you don’t give your starter a chance, as long as their stuff looks OK, I think you’re asking for trouble,” Francona said. . Saturday’s pitching matchup is Cleveland’s Ubaldo Jimenez (11-9, 3.62) against Chicago’s Andre Rienzo (2-1, 4.50).