The Indians came from behind twice on Sunday to beat the White Sox at Progressive Field, 3-2 in 10 innings, and extend their home winning streak to eight games.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Indians did it again to the Chicago White Sox.
Rajai Davis doubled to start the 10th inning Sunday and came around to score the winning run on a two-out single by Jose Ramirez as the Indians beat the White Sox, 3-2, in walk-off fashion for the second time in three days at Progressive Field.
The Indians beat Chicago, 3-2, Friday night on Carlos Santana's leadoff homer in the ninth. The Tribe, powered by a three-game sweep of Chicago, has won 10 of its last 16 games to retain its lead in the AL Central.
Davis, who had four hits and two steals in the game, took third on on a sacrifice bunt by Jason Kipnis. Closer David Robertson (0-1) followed with intentional walks to Mike Napoli and Francisco Lindor to load the bases. Manager Robin Ventura, meanwhile, inserted Tyler Saladino as a fifth infielder.
The five-man alignment worked against Santana as he fouled out to third. The White Sox, with two out, went back to a three-man outfield and four-man infield, but it didn't matter. Ramirez skipped a single past first baseman Jose Abreu, who went to the ground to try and make a play, for the victory.
"Every ball I hit I think has a chance to get by the infielders," said Ramirez, through team interpreter Anna Bolton. Ramirez is hitting .414 (12-for-29) with two out and runners in scoring position.
Manager Terry Francona appreciated Ramirez's hit, but gave a shout out Brandon Koehnke and his grounds crew "for putting a hop in there' to help the ball get past Abreu. Yes, was kidding.
Dan Otero (2-0) pitched a scoreless 10th for the win. He was one of four Indians' pitchers.
The Indians threatened in the ninth when Juan Uribe doubled off the wall in left center field with one out against Nate Jones. The rally fizzled when Yan Gomes struck out and Brett Lawrie made a game-saving stop and throw on Michael Martinez's sharp grounder on the outfield grass between first and second base to send the game into extra innings.
"He made a great play," said Martinez. "I crushed that ball."
Starters Carlos Carrasco and Carlos Rodon pitched well in no-decision efforts. Carrasco allowed two runs on five hits in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked four.
"I feel like I did before I got hurt," said Carrasco, making his fourth start since coming off the disabled list after straining his left hamstring on April 26. "I feel like I'm back."
Rodon, who remained undefeated against the Tribe at 3-0, allowed two runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked one.
The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first on doubles by Tim Anderson and Abreu. Anderson opened the game with a double to left, took third on Adam Eaton's sacrifice bunt and scored on Abreu's double to left center.
The Indians tied it, 1-1, in the bottom of the first on Napoli's sacrifice fly. Davis started the inning with single and advanced on a bunt hit by Kipnis that eluded catcher Alex Avila for a hit. Davis stole third and scored on Napoli's fly ball to the track in right.
Melky Cabrera, a Carrasco nemesis, gave Chicago a 2-1 lead with a one-out homer in the fourth. Cabrera came into the game hitting .444 (8-for-18) with one homer and seven RBI against Carrasco. He hit a 2-2 pitch over the right field wall.
Uribe tied it for the Tribe with a homer of his own in the third. Uribe hit Rodon's 3-2 pitch into the left field bleachers. It was Uribe's second homer and fourth hit since returning to the lineup on Saturday night. He'd been sidelined after getting hit in the groin by a Mike Trout grounder on June 12.
What it means
The Indians extended their Progressive Field winning streak to eight games. They are 21-10 in the AL Central, 20-12 at home and 7-2 against the White Sox.
The White Sox lost for the 18th time in their last 25 games. They have lost 14 of their last 17 road games.
The pitches
Carrasco threw 100 pitches, 66 percent (66-for-100) for strikes. Rodon threw 99 pitches, 66 or 67 percent for strikes.
Lead the way
Davis, leading off the first, third, fifth and 10th innings, singled, doubled, singled and doubled. He scored in the first and 10th innings.
Davis, thanks to his two steals of third base, leads the AL with 20.
"Stealing bases has always been fun for me," said Davis. "I started when I was young and I've never stopped."
Asked if it was easier to steal third base than second, Davis said, "It can be. It depends who is on the mound."
Good teammate
Carrasco picked up Kipnis in the fifth when the second baseman made a two-out error on Adam Eaton's grounder to put runners on first and second with the score tied, 2-2. Carrasco retired Abreu on a grounder to short to end the inning.
Thanks for coming
The White Sox and Indians drew 25,269 fans to Progressive Field on Sunday afternoon for a three-game series total of 84,247. The Indians' attendance is 532,317 in 32 home dates.
First pitch was at 1:11 p.m. with a temperature of 86 degrees.
What's next?
Tampa Bay visits Progressive Field for a three-game series starting Monday night. Josh Tomlin (8-1, 3.27) will start for the Indians, while the Rays go with lefty Drew Smyly (2-7, 4.75) at 7:10. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry the game.
Tomlin, coming off two well-pitched no decisions, is 2-2 in his career against Tampa Bay. The Rays who have faced Tomlin are hitting .107 (3-for-28) against him.
Smyly, 0-3 in his last five starts, is 0-1 against the Tribe this year and 2-2 in his career. Yan Gomes is hitting.364 (4-for-11) with two homers and two RBI against Smyly.