Indians have White Sox’ number
On the way to winning the World Series in 2005, the White Sox fattened up their record in games against the Indians.
The Sox were 14-5 against Cleveland in a magical season that seems to be a distant memory these days.
The Indians, in turn, are beating up on the White Sox this season as they make a strong push for a wild-card spot.
Both teams had to wait out a rain delay of 4 hours, 23 minutes Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field.
When the skies finally dried up, Cleveland rolled over Chris Sale and the Sox 7-1. The Indians completed a four-game sweep and have won 12 straight over the White Sox. For the season, they are 15-2 vs. their AL Central rivals.
“I think that we come in every game trying to win it and you know they outplayed us for four games,” Adam Dunn said. “You can take getting beat, but when they just flat out outplay you, they pitch better and they hit better, they just outplay you.”
Sale allowed 6 runs on 9 hits (3 home runs) and 3 walks in 52⁄3 innings while falling to 0-4 against the Indians this season.
“They roll out of a lot of righties,” Sale said. “When someone has your number, they have your number. There’s not much you can do when someone is on to you and kind of has your number. You just have to try to fight through that and battle through it.”
While there have been some whispers that the Indians know what Sale is going to throw, the Sox’ ace lefty blamed himself for Matt Carson’s solo home run in the fifth inning and Asdrubal Cabrera’s 3-run shot in the fifth.
“A high changeup up to Cabrera and you obviously can’t do that to a hitter of his caliber,” Sale said. “I got a 3-2 count to Carson and, obviously, more times than not I’m coming in with a fastball there.
“They just put some good swings on some bad pitches, and they put some good swings on good pitches.”
The White Sox still have two more games in Cleveland next week.
“They’ve been swinging it pretty good, and it continued tonight,” manager Robin Ventura said after the Indians outscored the Sox 32-6 in the series. “I think once they got a couple on the board they just seem to be a little more in rhythm than most teams.
“We still have to go out there. It still counts. Guys are playing hard, it’s just not happening.”