The Indians, with Carlos Carrasco making his first start of the year, were sitting pretty going into the eighth inning today, holding on to a 4-1 lead, helped in large part by three Chicago errors leading to two unearned runs for the Tribe.
After an early Alex Rios homer gave the White Sox the early lead, the Indians tied things in the third on an Asdrubal Cabrera single, and Cleveland took the lead in the fourth on a base-hit from Jordan Brown. Then the Tribe added two more in the fifth, with one run scoring on a double play grounder from Cabrera and a second run plated on a Chicago error.
The three-run lead held up until the eighth, when the wheels came off and the Sox stormed ahead. Ramirez brought Chicago within two with a home-run...ah, but not that Ramirez. It was Alexei Ramirez, the White Sox ninth-place hitter, who got the ball rolling, and after Carrasco's departure, Rafael Perez retired a batter before Justin Germano came on and walked Rios before Paul Konerko unloaded and gave Chicago the lead.
The visitors added a ninth-inning run on a sacrifice fly from Alexei Ramirez. Meanwhile, Manny went one-for-three in his Sox debut, with a harmless single and a hit by pitch from Germano.
Tony Pena was the beneficiary of the late rally and improved to 4-2, with Chris Sale picking up his first save of the season on an off day for regular Sox closer Bobby Jenks. Germano took the loss, his first decision of the season, as the Tribe lost their fourth straight.
Carrasco impressed with seven-and-a-third innings, allowing three runs on six hits, including two homers, to go with one walk and four strikeouts.
Next in line is a three-game set in Seattle, followed by three more in California against the Angels. The Indians must go 10-19 the rest of the way to avoid 100 losses.