White Sox score late, top Indians 4-0

CLEVELAND - Yasmani Grandal and Eloy Jimenez hit sacrifice flies and the White Sox scored 4 runs in the ninth inning - 3 charged to ineffective Cleveland closer Brad Hand - to beat the Indians 4-0 on Wednesday night.

The Indians got eight terrific innings from No. 5 starter Zach Plesac. He struck out a career-high 11, shut out the Sox on 3 hits and continued a strong run of Cleveland pitching to start the season.

But Sox rookie Luis Robert hit a 2-run single in the ninth as the South Siders snapped a three-game losing streak and salvaged one game in the series.

Sox starter Lucas Giolito matched Plesac pitch for pitch through six, holding the Indians scoreless on 4 hits. It was a nice bounce back by the All-Star right-hander, who gave up a home run in Minnesota on his first pitch of the season and was touched for 7 runs in 3 2/3 innings.

The White Sox couldn't do anything against Plesac, who didn't allow a walk. The right-hander broke a couple bats, made Tim Anderson smash his in frustration near the plate and befuddled Chicago's hitters. But once he was pulled after throwing 97 pitches, the White Sox went to work against Hand (0-1).

Anderson doubled leading off the ninth before Hand walked Yoan Moncada and Jose Abreu to load the bases. Grandal, who struck out twice against Plesac, then delivered the game's first run with a liner to right.

After Hand was pulled, Jimenez, who was back in the lineup missing three games following a collision with the left-field wall in Minnesota, hit his sacrifice fly off Adam Cimber and Robert hit a 2-run single.

Cleveland loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth off Alex Colome, who finally closed it out to protect the win for Aaron Bummer (1-0).

The Indians have opened the season with six consecutive starters pitching at least six innings while allowing two runs or fewer. The last team to do that was the 1993 Atlanta Braves, whose staff included Hall of Famers Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine.

Cleveland last did it in 1905, when the team was known as the Naps.