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White Sox Complete Sweep Of Tribe

Pitching Falls Apart In 11-4 Loss

CLEVELAND -- The White Sox did the unthinkable as they completed their first-ever sweep of the Tribe in Jacobs Field with an 11-4 win on Wednesday night.

"When the series started, I thought if we could win two games, we'd be in good shape," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. "It is still early, but in the same aspect, we don't want to fall too far behind."

The last time Chicago swept the Indians in Cleveland was back in October of 1993 to close out Cleveland Municipal Stadium. The White Sox (40-24) also increased their stranglehold of first place in the Central to five games.

The Indians looked like a team that has quit even though it is only June with their consistent base running blunders and poor hitting. The loss extends the Tribe's losing streak to four games and drops their record to 34-28.

Jeff Abbott led the onslaught as he had three base knocks and drove in three runs. Magglio Ordonez, Paul Konerko and Tony Graffanino each drove in two runs in the victory.

The White Sox continued to pound Indians' starters, as they got to Jim Brower (1-1) in the top of the first inning. Brower was the victim of his own control problems as his two walks came back to haunt him.

After Ray Durham and Frank Thomas walked, Ordonez's fielders' choice moved the runners to second and third with two outs.

Paul Konerko followed with a single to left that scored both Durham and Thomas, giving Chicago the early 2-0 advantage.

But the White Sox were not done yet as Chris Singleton singled to put runners on first and second. Abbott followed with an RBI single to left, making it 3-0.

Brower continued to struggle as Graffanino hit a bases-clearing single through the left side of the infield, making it a 5-0 White Sox lead in only the first inning.

"(Brower) kept falling behind," Sandy Alomar said. "You can't pitch from behind like that."

The Indians offense came right back against left-hander Kip Wells. Wells retired Kenny Lofton before the trouble started.

Enrique Wilson struck out, but a passed ball by White Sox catcher Mark Johnson allowed him to reach base. After Wells walked Robbie Alomar, David Justice hit a 442-foot home run to right field to cut the Chicago lead to 5-3.

The home run was Justice's 18th and the three RBIs push his season total to 50.

Four pitches later, Jim Thome blasted a solo home run off the scoreboard in right field. The 417-foot blast was Thome's 17th and pulled the Indians within a run at 5-4.

"I thought we had a chance there," Manuel said. "But we came back out and gave up five more."

Brower continued to struggle as he allowed the first three batters to reach base in the top of the second. The only out he recorded was when Durham was caught stealing.

For Brower, he allowed nine of the 12 batters he faced to reach base. He went one and one third innings, seven runs on six hits, walking three and striking out one.

Jamie Brewington came on in relief and did not fair any better. He gave up a two-run double to left by Ordonez to make it a 7-4 Chicago lead.

The bleeding did not stop for the Tribe, as Brewington continued to look just as bad as Brower. He walked Konerko and then Singleton hit into a fielders' choice to put runners on the corners.

Abbott stroked a two-run single to give the White Sox a 9-4 lead. Graffanino hit a single to right that bounced off Justice's foot and rolled to the wall.

Justice's error allowed Abbott to score to make it a 10-4 Chicago lead. This would be it for Brewington, as he allowed three runs, two earned on three hits, walking one and striking out one.

"It is tough for the young guys to come up here and pitch," Alomar said. "They fall behind too much, but they are trying their best.

"We need to get some of are veterans back."

After a 2:07 rain delay, play resumed with right-hander Willie Martinez making his major league debut for the Indians.

Wells did not return after the delay, as he went two innings, giving up four runs on three hits, striking out four and walking one. Kevin Beirne came on in relief to earn his first victory of the season.

"It is hard for the offense to have to keep coming from behind," Alomar said. "That is too much to ask from our offense every day."

Chicago continued to score runs as they added another one in the top of the fifth. Abbott got things started with a lead off single.

He went to second when Martinez walked Graffanino and eventually moved to third on Johnson's fly out to right.

Durham came to the plate and continued to pound Indians' pitching. He hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Abbott, making it an 11-4 Chicago lead.

"We need to get our pitching straightened out and get consistent hitting," Manuel said. "We need to play better situational baseball."

The Indians will have a much needed off day on Thursday before traveling to Detroit to face the Tigers on Friday. They will have Dave Burba (7-1) on the mound Friday night in hopes of snapping their four-game losing streak.

"This was very disappointing series," Alomar said. "We don't need to fall behind anymore at this point."

The Tigers will counter with right-hander Brian Moehler (3-3). First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.

After the game, Martinez was sent back to triple-A Buffalo, the team announced. A roster move is still pending.

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