GAME THREAD: AL: CLEVELAND (84-60) at CHI WHITE SOX (61-83)

AL: CLEVELAND (84-60) at CHI WHITE SOX (61-83)

<h3>Red-hot Indians face lowly White Sox</h3>

Cleveland (84-60) at Chi White Sox (61-83) 8:11 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians' stellar play downthe stretch has helped them all but lock up the AmericanLeague Central Division.


Paul Byrd takes the mound Tuesday as the Indians aim for their15th win in the last 18 games when they take on the ChicagoWhite Sox.


Cleveland, which has not made the playoffs since 2001, holds asix-game lead over the defending AL champion Detroit Tigers(78-66) in the AL Central.


Byrd (14-6, 4.34 ERA) tossed a four-hitter on September 1 vs.Chicago, which has lost 21 of its last 28 games and is tied withTampa Bay for the worst mark in baseball.


Byrd had his five-game winning streak snapped on Thursday whenhe allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 10-3loss to Anaheim.


Meanwhile, rookie John Danks (6-13, 5.41) looks to avoidbecoming the first White Sox pitcher since 1920 to lose sevenstraight decisions. Danks is winless in his last eight startsand has not won since beating Cleveland on July 16.

One bright spot in a lost season for Chicago is designatedhitter Jim Thome, who needs just two home runs to become the23rd player to reach 500 for his career.

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND AT CHI WHITE SOX -- LINEUPS

CLEVELAND CHI WHITE SOX
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Grady Sizemore CF .275 23 73 Jerry Owens CF .248 1 12
Asdrubal Cabrera 2B .316 3 15 Scott Podsednik LF .260 2 10
Travis Hafner DH .253 21 87 Jim Thome DH .271 26 80
Ryan Garko 1B .291 17 55 Paul Konerko 1B .260 28 78
Jhonny Peralta SS .270 18 67 Jermaine Dye RF .252 26 67
Franklin Gutierrez RF .270 11 29 Juan Uribe SS .224 16 55
Jason Michaels LF .268 7 36 Danny Richar 2B .202 4 10
Casey Blake 3B .266 15 66 Andy Gonzalez 3B .200 2 11
Kelly Shoppach C .275 6 27 Donny Lucy C .500 0 0

Paul Byrd RHP (14-6, 4.34) John Danks LHP (6-13, 5.41)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX
WARMUPS: CLE - PAUL BYRD (14-6, 4.34)
CHA - JOHN DANKS (6-13, 5.41)

UMPIRES: HP - ROB DRAKE
1B - GERRY DAVIS
2B - BRIAN GORMAN
3B - PAUL NAUERT

WEATHER: 69 Degrees, clear
WIND: 17 mph, left to right</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX
STARTING BATS: CLE - PAUL BYRD AND KELLY SHOPPACH
CHA - JOHN DANKS AND DONNY LUCY

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.275, 23 HR, 73 RBI)
A CABRERA (.316, 3 HR, 15 RBI)
T HAFNER (.253, 21 HR, 87 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0
CHI WHITE SOX 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
CHA - JOHN DANKS

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: J OWENS (.248, 1 HR, 12 RBI)
S PODSEDNIK (.260, 2 HR, 10 RBI)
J THOME (.271, 26 HR, 80 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS CHI WHITE SOX (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
S Podsednik lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
J Thome dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
P Konerko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
J Dye rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
J Uribe ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202
A Gonzalez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
D Lucy c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0
CHI WHITE SOX - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.34

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Danks 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.37

Pitches-strikes: J Danks 17-11. Ground balls-fly balls: J Danks 2-0. Batters
faced: J Danks 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Paul Nauert.

Weather: 67 degrees, clear. Wind: 15 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
CHA - JOHN DANKS</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 1
CHI WHITE SOX 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
CHA - JOHN DANKS

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: R GARKO (.291, 17 HR, 55 RBI)
J PERALTA (.270, 18 HR, 67 RBI)
F GUTIERREZ (.270, 11 HR, 29 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS CHI WHITE SOX (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - K Shoppach (3, throw).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
S Podsednik lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .265
J Thome dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .270
P Konerko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
J Dye rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
J Uribe ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202
A Gonzalez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
D Lucy c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - P Konerko 1. Team LOB - 1.


BASERUNNING: SB - S Podsednik (12, 2nd base off P Byrd/K Shoppach).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0
CHI WHITE SOX - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.31

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Danks 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.37

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 16-10; J Danks 17-11. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd
0-3; J Danks 2-0. Batters faced: P Byrd 4; J Danks 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Paul Nauert.

Weather: 67 degrees, clear. Wind: 15 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY RYAN GARKO (18) TO CENTER WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF JOHN DANKS.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1, CHI WHITE SOX 0

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.270, 18 HR, 67 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 1 1 2 1
CHI WHITE SOX 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
CHA - JOHN DANKS

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: J DYE (.252, 26 HR, 67 RBI)
J URIBE (.224, 16 HR, 55 RBI)
D RICHAR (.202, 4 HR, 10 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (1) VS CHI WHITE SOX (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
R Garko 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .293
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .268
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 7 1 2 1 1 2 1

BATTING: HR - R Garko (18, 2nd inning off J Danks 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - R Garko
(56). Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: Picked Off - F Gutierrez (1st base, J Danks).

FIELDING: E - K Shoppach (3, throw).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
S Podsednik lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .265
J Thome dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .270
P Konerko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
J Dye rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
J Uribe ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202
A Gonzalez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
D Lucy c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - P Konerko 1. Team LOB - 1.


BASERUNNING: SB - S Podsednik (12, 2nd base off P Byrd/K Shoppach).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 01 -- 1
CHI WHITE SOX - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.31

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Danks 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 5.40

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 16-10; J Danks 46-29. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd
0-3; J Danks 2-1. Batters faced: P Byrd 4; J Danks 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Paul Nauert.

Weather: 67 degrees, clear. Wind: 15 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY JUAN URIBE (17) TO CENTER WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF PAUL BYRD.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1, CHI WHITE SOX 1

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: D RICHAR (.202, 4 HR, 10 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 1 1 2 1
CHI WHITE SOX 0 1 1 3 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
CHA - JOHN DANKS

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K SHOPPACH (.275, 6 HR, 27 RBI)
G SIZEMORE (.275, 0-FOR-1)
A CABRERA (.313, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (1) VS CHI WHITE SOX (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
R Garko 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .293
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .268
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 7 1 2 1 1 2 1

BATTING: HR - R Garko (18, 2nd inning off J Danks 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - R Garko
(56). Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: Picked Off - F Gutierrez (1st base, J Danks).

FIELDING: E - K Shoppach (3, throw).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
S Podsednik lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .265
J Thome dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .270
P Konerko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
J Dye rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
J Uribe ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .226
D Richar 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .208
A Gonzalez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .199
D Lucy c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500

Totals 8 1 3 1 0 0 2

BATTING: HR - J Uribe (17, 2nd inning off P Byrd 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - J Uribe
(56). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - P Konerko 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - S Podsednik (12, 2nd base off P Byrd/K Shoppach). CS - D
Richar (3, 2nd base by P Byrd/K Shoppach).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 01 -- 1
CHI WHITE SOX - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 3 1 1 0 0 1 4.34

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Danks 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 5.40

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 29-19; J Danks 46-29. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd
2-3; J Danks 2-1. Batters faced: P Byrd 8; J Danks 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Paul Nauert.

Weather: 67 degrees, clear. Wind: 15 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY TRAVIS HAFNER SCORED KELLY SHOPPACH AND GRADY
SIZEMORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, T HAFNER ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 3
CHI WHITE SOX 1 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: R GARKO (.293, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX - PITCHING CHANGE
CHA: LANCE BROADWAY (0-0, 0.00) IN THE 3RD
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, F GUTIERREZ ON FIRST, J PERALTA ON SECOND, T
HAFNER ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 3, CHI WHITE SOX 1

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J MICHAELS (.268, 0-FOR-0)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: L Broadway relieved J Danks.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, F GUTIERREZ ON FIRST, J PERALTA ON SECOND, T
HAFNER ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 3
CHI WHITE SOX 1 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J Michaels (.268, 0-FOR-0)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 1 2 3 3 1
CHI WHITE SOX 0 1 1 3 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
CHA - LANCE BROADWAY

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: D LUCY (.500, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
J OWENS (.247, 0-FOR-1)
S PODSEDNIK (.265, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (3) VS CHI WHITE SOX (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 .275
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
T Hafner dh 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 .254
R Garko 1b 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 .292
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .269
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .273
J Michaels lf 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 .267
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265
K Shoppach c 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 10 3 3 3 4 3 5

BATTING: HR - R Garko (18, 2nd inning off J Danks 0 on, 0 Out). S - A Cabrera.
RBI - R Garko (56), T Hafner 2 (89). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
J Michaels 2. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: Picked Off - F Gutierrez (1st base, J Danks).

FIELDING: E - K Shoppach (3, throw).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
S Podsednik lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .265
J Thome dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .270
P Konerko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
J Dye rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
J Uribe ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .226
D Richar 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .208
A Gonzalez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .199
D Lucy c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500

Totals 8 1 3 1 0 0 2

BATTING: HR - J Uribe (17, 2nd inning off P Byrd 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - J Uribe
(56). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - P Konerko 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - S Podsednik (12, 2nd base off P Byrd/K Shoppach). CS - D
Richar (3, 2nd base by P Byrd/K Shoppach).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 012 -- 3
CHI WHITE SOX - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 3 1 1 0 0 1 4.34

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Danks 2 2/3 3 3 3 4 3 1 5.50
L Broadway 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

WP - J Danks. HBP - K Shoppach (by J Danks). Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 29-19; J
Danks 76-43; L Broadway 1-1. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 2-3; J Danks 3-1; L
Broadway 0-1. Batters faced: P Byrd 8; J Danks 15; L Broadway 1.

UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Paul Nauert.

Weather: 67 degrees, clear. Wind: 15 mph, out to center.</div>