CHICAGO (AP) — Tim Anderson delivered a tiebreaking single, José Abreu was hit in the head by a pitch with the bases loaded and the Chicago White Sox rallied for two runs in the eighth inning to top the Cleveland Indians, 6-4, on Friday night after acquiring All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel from the crosstown Cubs.
Anderson’s hit to right field put Chicago ahead 5-4, then Indians reliever James Karinchak (7-3) plunked Abreu in the helmet with a fastball to force in another run. Both benches and bullpens emptied briefly, but no punches were thrown and the reigning AL MVP stayed in the game.
Yoán Moncada had a bizarre and fortunate solo homer among his three hits as the AL Central leaders moved nine games ahead of second-place Cleveland despite winning for just the third time in nine tries.
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Franmil Reyes had three RBIs on three hits for the Indians, including a solo homer off newly acquired reliever Ryan Tepera in the top of the eighth that tied it at 4.
Kimbrel, dealt to the South Side just before Friday’s trade deadline, should give the White Sox a fearsome bullpen for their playoff push. Chicago already had one of baseball’s best closers in All-Star Liam Hendriks and added Tepera from the Cubs on Thursday.
Hendriks pitched a perfect ninth for his 26th save.
Tepera failed to get an out in his White Sox debut. Reyes greeted the right-hander in the eighth with his 20th homer on a 1-1 slider. Harold Ramirez singled and Oscar Mercado walked before Jose Ruiz (1-1) entered and got three outs to end the threat.
Chicago starter Lance Lynn labored through five innings, allowing three runs and seven hits while throwing 104 pitches. He struck out seven and walked one.
Moncada homered on what should have been a deep flyout in the second. Center fielder Bradley Zimmer appeared to make a catch at the wall, but right fielder Daniel Johnson collided with him, forcing the ball to pop up and roll over the fence.
Brian Goodwin, Leury Garcia and Andrew Vaughn also had RBIs.
César Hernández started at second base in his White Sox debut after being acquired in a trade from Cleveland on Thursday and went 2 for 5. It was the first of four deals in about 24 hours by the injury-depleted Indians.
Jose Ramírez had an RBI for Cleveland. J.C. Meijia allowed four runs on four hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings.
Cleveland played its first game under interim manager DeMarlo Hale, who had been the team’s bench coach. Terry Francona stepped down on Thursday for the remainder of the season due to health reasons.
The 62-year-old Francona entered the hospital Friday and will undergo left hip replacement surgery next week. He had been wearing a boot on his right foot all season after undergoing toe surgery for a staph infection in February.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: LF Eloy Jimenez (groin tightness) remained out and day-to-day after leaving the game Wednesday in Kansas City. He had just returned Monday from a pectoral tear that had kept him out all season.
UP NEXT
Indians RHP Triston McKenzie (1-4, 5.61 ERA) faces White Sox LHP Dallas Keuchel (7-4, 4.32 ERA) on Saturday night.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.