CLEVELAND (AP) — Nick Swisher is ready for LeBron James’ return to Cleveland.
"I
almost felt like I should take some powder and throw it up in the air,"
he said, referring to James’ signature pregame ritual, after hitting a
tiebreaking two-run homer in the fifth inning of Cleveland’s 7-4 win
over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
Before Swisher’s home run, the biggest cheer from the crowd of 24,652 came when the Indians put a message
on the scoreboard welcoming home James, who announced he
was returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Chants of "LBJ" were heard
later in the game.
Corey Kluber (9-6) allowed four runs in six innings while David Murphy also homered for Cleveland, his
first since May 21.
The win moved the Indians back to .500 (46-46) for the first time since June 20.
"It’s hot in the 216 right now, for sure," Swisher said in reference to Cleveland’s area code.
"There’s a lot of excitement."
Kluber,
left off the AL All-Star team despite a strong first half, wasn’t his
usual dominant self but pitched well enough to win. The right-hander has
won three of his last four decisions.
"I think Klubes is a really
good pitcher," manager Terry Francona said. "You’re not going to have
your best command every night, but he still stayed out there for six and
gave us a chance to win."
"When you have 30-some starts, there
are going to be times when it’s a struggle to get through it," Kluber
said. "You have to keep your team in the game. The important thing is we
got a win."
Cody Allen struck out the side in the ninth for his 11th save.
Swisher’s homer off Hector Noesi (3-7) to center field broke a 4-4 tie.
Adam Dunn hit a leadoff homer in the fifth for Chicago, which has lost three straight. The White Sox took
the lead on three different occasions, but the Indians responded to tie or go ahead each time in their
next at-bat.
"If you’re going to be down, that’s important," Francona said.
The Indians were helped by an overturned call on a replay in the fifth. Asdrubal
Cabrera was originally called out trying to steal second, but Francona
challenged the call, and Cabrera was ruled safe after a review.
"That was obviously a huge call for us," Francona said.
Lonnie Chisenhall’s single tied it before Swisher homered to center.
Francona
and a trainer visited Kluber in the fourth after he slipped backing up
the plate, but he remained in the game. Kluber struck out five, walked
two and gave up eight hits.
Kluber was among the players in an online vote for the final spot on the All-Star team. The Indians’
massive marketing campaign for Kluber fell short, but he enters the
break with a 3.01 ERA and is fourth in the AL with 142 strikeouts.
"Kluber’s
offense bailed him out tonight," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said.
"It looked good for us against him, but he ended up outlasting Hector
and getting the win. Give the Indians credit, they made it happen for him."
Adrian
Nieto’s RBI double and Leury Garcia’s run-scoring grounder in the
second put Chicago in front. Murphy’s two-run homer tied it in the
bottom of the inning.
Adam Eaton’s RBI double in the fourth made it 3-2, but the Indians quickly tied it when Chris Dickerson
drew a bases-loaded walk.
Kluber
retired the first batter in the second, but the next three reached
base. Conor Gillaspie doubled, took third on a single and scored on
Nieto’s double to left. Garcia’s grounder made it 2-0.
Swisher singled with one out in the second, and Murphy homered to right,
Eaton’s
double to left-center scored Garcia from first base in the fourth. Dunn
homered to dead center field, the 454th shot of his career.
Noesi allowed six runs in 4 2-3 innings.
White Sox All-Star Jose Abreu, who leads the majors with 28 homers, was 1 for 4 with a third-inning
single.
Carlos Santana had an RBI double in the seventh for Cleveland.
Cleveland’s bullpen pitched three scoreless innings, with John Axford working the seventh and Bryan Shaw
pitching the eighth.
NOTES: Allen has converted 10 consecutive save opportunities. … White Sox 2B Gordon Beckham, 1 for 30
in his last seven games, was given the
night off. … Cleveland optioned LHP T.J. House to the minors and
called up RHP Austin Adams, a reliever. House will make a start at
Single-A Mahoning Valley next week and be recalled following the
All-Star break. … The White Sox signed LHP Carlos Rodon, the No. 3 pick in the draft. … RHP Zach
McAllister (3-4) will be recalled from Triple-A Columbus by the Indians to start Saturday against RHP
Scott Carroll (3-5).
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