Rodon, White Sox hand Indians costly loss
CLEVELAND - Carlos Rodon allowed 1 run while pitching into the eighth inning and the White Sox defeated the sloppy Cleveland Indians 4-3 on Saturday night.
Rodon (8-6) went 7 2-3 innings and beat Cleveland for the third time this season. Micah Johnson's fifth-inning single broke a 1-all tie, sending the Indians to a costly loss as they attempt to remain in the race for the second AL wild card.
A wild pitch by Carlos Carrasco (13-11) and two misplays by rookie shortstop Francisco Lindor hurt Cleveland, which entered play trailing Houston by four games in the wild-card chase.
The game ended when Abraham Almonte was picked off first base by closer David Robertson.
The Indians (73-74), who also trail the Angels and Twins in the wild-card standings, have alternated wins and losses in their last seven games.
Chris Johnson's 2-run homer off Robertson cut the lead to 4-3 with 1 out in the ninth. After Almonte singled, Jerry Sands flied out. Robertson picked off Almonte with Jason Kipnis batting to secure his 30th save.
Rodon is 3-0 with a 1.52 ERA in four starts and a relief appearance against Cleveland this season.
Lindor's throwing error on a potential double-play ball led to Chicago's first run in the fourth. Carrasco threw a wild pitch in the fifth before Lindor dropped a throw on what could have been another double play, also allowing a run to score.
Carrasco retired his first nine hitters before Adam Eaton led off the fourth with a single. Jose Abreu bounced a grounder to Lindor, whose throw sailed past Kipnis at second base and into right field. Eaton went to third and scored on Melky Cabrera's sacrifice fly for an unearned run.
Yan Gomes' sacrifice fly tied the game in the bottom half before Chicago went ahead again. Rob Brantley drew a leadoff walk in the fifth and went to second on Avisail Garcia's single. Mike Olt struck out, but a wild pitch to Johnson allowed both runners to move up.
Johnson took advantage of a drawn-in infield by blooping a single out of Lindor's reach into shallow left for a 2-1 lead. Eaton hit a bouncer to Carrasco, who threw to second for a force play. Lindor dropped the ball attempting to take it out of his glove, and Garcia scored for a two-run lead.
Carrasco, who fell to 3-8 in his career and 1-4 this season against Chicago, allowed 3 runs in five-plus innings.