If there was anything good that happened with the two rainouts this week, it’s that it appeared to allow a battered and bruised Tribe a chance to punch the reset button before yesterday.
They appeared to take notes from the Yankees series, too: Knock the ball all over the place, and you have a pretty good chance of winning ballgames. With an error by Mark Reynolds opening the door for the White Sox to grab an early 2-0 lead, Nick Swisher wasted no time getting the game back to square with a two-run shot, his first with the team. The turning point occurred in the fifth inning, and the Tribe did it with merciless aplomb against a normally tough customer in Chris Sale, who clearly didn’t have his best stuff (4 1/3 innings/ 8 ER/3 SO/2 BB). Following up an RBI single in his previous at bat, Mark Reynolds atoned further for his earlier gaffe (that lead to two unearned Sox runs) with a grand slam, his fifth homer of the season. Yan Gomes capped off the big inning with a first-pitch, two-run shot off of Sox rookie, Deunte Heath. It was Gomes’ first hit as a member of the Tribe.
But the big star of the day was Zach McAllister, who turned in another fine start. Only this time, he had all the run support he needed. Against a Chicago team that looked as if they wanted to be anywhere but on the field, Z-Mac continued the strike-throwing efficiency that Justin Masterson started last night, and the Sox seemed to have no answer. Brian Shaw came in in relief and gave up a two-run shot to Tribe-killer Alejandro De Aza, but you could attribute that to a lack of work for the entire bullpen and in less than ideal weather conditions. Both Nick Hagadone and Joe Smith worked an inning each to close things out.
The Tribe will try for the sweep tomorrow with Brett Myers starting for the Indians and Jake Peavy starting for the White Sox.
W: Zach McAllister (1-1); L: Chris Sale (1-1); Player of the Game: Zach McAllister (6.1/3 R (1 ER)/6 SO), Honorable Mention: Mark Reynolds with 5 RBI.
It is very nice to see early returns on the Indian’s offseason investments. Bourn and Swisher winning it for us last night and Reynolds being the big run producer today, make me feel like this team will be in the thick of things after the All Star break.