Game 144: Indians 7, White Sox 3

Ubaldo Jimenez allowed just three hits in his six innings of work, but had to throw a lot of pitches just get through those innings. He retired the first six batters he faced in order, but got into serious trouble in the third inning, when he allowed two of his three hits and both of his earned runs to score. In the fourth, he walked three but managed to get out of the inning without allowing a run to score. Sometimes an outing is an easy one, in that hits and walks are scattered evenly through an outing. But not this one; Jimenez had to throw a lot of high-leverage pitches, but he minimized the damage, and set the Indians up to pull away later in the game.

Before the game, the Indians activated Travis Hafner from the Disabled List. He was in the lineup as the DH, and was on base twice with a "walk and a knock". He and Jim Thome will share playing time over the remaining 18 games, and that should suit both players, especially with two doubleheaders and several day games after night games left on the schedule.

The leaders on offense were two unexpected sources. Trevor Crowe and Luis Valbuena each had three hits and between them scored four run of seven Cleveland runs. Crowe singled in Lonnie Chisenhall for the first run of the game, and Lou Marson's double drove home both Valbuena (who had singled earlier) and Crowe to give the Indians a 3-0 lead. Valbuena would add to the lead with a sixth-inning homer, his first major-league home run since April 16th of last year.

The Indians broke the game open with three runs in the eighth inning, capped by Carlos Santana's two-run double. Santana's hit broke an 0-for-20 streak; he's seemed wore down over the past few weeks as he's been a everyday player at either first base or behind the plate. With Matt LaPorta back for the remainder of the season, Santana should get more days off.

via www.fangraphs.com