The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Goodwin home run in ninth sinks Tribe
Recently acquired Straw hits solo home run
Brian Goodwin homered at the bottom of the ninth to give the White Sox the victory over the Tribe, 2-1.
CHICAGO » Brian Goodwin homered with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the White Sox a 2-1 victory over the Indians on Aug. 1.
Goodwin hit a 3-1 pitch from Nick Wittgren (2-4) over the wall in right for his sixth home run of the season.
Liam Hendriks (5-2) allowed just one hit in the ninth to complete a scoreless six-inning stint by the Chicago bullpen. Reynaldo Lopez allowed one hit in three innings followed by Aaron Bummer and Craig Kimbrel, who each worked a hitless inning.
Chicago won two of three in the series to extend its AL Central lead to nine games.
“That’s really the most important part, to get the series and get the win,” Goodwin said. “Give them props for coming out and playing us tough, but that was the biggest part, getting the wins.”
Myles Straw, who was acquired just before the July 30 trade deadline, homered for the Indians.
“There’s a comfort with him,” interim manager DeMarlo Hale said. “He’s fit right in, really. And it’s good to see him aid and help pretty quickly.”
A day after he became the first major league player to hit his first three homers in a game, White Sox rookie catcher Seby Zavala was hitless in two at-bats and also walked.
Cleveland jumped to a 1-0 lead on Straw’s fourth homer of the season leading off the third.
Chicago tied it in the fifth when José Abreu — who was hit in the head with a 96-mph fastball on Friday — was hit by a Cal Quantrill pitch with the bases loaded. The up-and-inside pitch grazed off Abreu’s left arm just below the shoulder. He stood at home plate for a moment before slowing making his way to first base.
“We wanted it as bad as any game this season, especially with our MVP battling the way he was,” Goodwin said.
Quantrill gave up one unearned run on three hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out six.
Paused
After consulting with the Elias Sports Bureau, the Indians announced they are freezing Terry Francona’s managerial record at 723568, which was through July 28.
Francona is on medical leave for the remainder of the season and has been replaced by Hale. If Francona returns next season, he will get credit for the team’s record the rest of the way. If he doesn’t return, those games go on Hale’s record.
Francona is just five wins away from matching Lou Boudreau for most in franchise history.
Trainer’s room
INDIANS >> RHP Shane Bieber (shoulder strain) is expected to begin playing catch again Aug. 2 in Toronto. Bieber had been limited to throwing weighted balls for a few days after he had started to play catch over a week ago.
Up next
INDIANS >> RHP Eli Morgan (1-3, 7.47 ERA) takes the mound Aug. 2 in the opener of a four-game series at Toronto. LHP Robbie Ray (9-5, 3.04) goes for the Blue Jays.