Chicago White Sox vs Cleveland Guardians Match Player Stats On Oct 01, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Oct 1, 2017

CLEVELAND -- Jay Bruce drove in two runs and Jose Ramirez had two hits, including his major league-leading 56th double, as the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 on Sunday at Progressive Field.

Cleveland starter Josh Tomlin (10-9) and six relievers combined on a four-hitter. Tomlin allowed one run on four hits with six strikeouts and no walks in 5 1/3 innings to get the win. Cody Allen pitched the ninth to pick up his 30th save.

Chicago starter Chris Volstad (1-2) pitched six innings, giving up three runs on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts in taking the loss.

Starting with their American League-record 22-game winning streak that began on Aug. 24, the Indians finished the season on a 33-4 run. Their final record of 102-60 is the best in the league, and the second most wins in franchise history.

The Indians' next game will be Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Thursday at Progressive Field against the winner of Tuesday's AL wild-card game between the Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees.

The rebuilding White Sox finish the season in fourth place in the AL Central with a record of 67-95.

The Indians scored all their runs in the first inning, with an assist from Volstad, who walked the first three batters he faced: Francisco Lindor, Jason Kipnis, and Ramirez.

Edwin Encarnacion lined out to short, but Bruce lined a single to right field, scoring Lindor and Kipnis. A sacrifice fly by Carlos Santana gave the Indians a 3-0 lead.

Tomlin held Chicago scoreless on one hit through the first four innings, but Rob Brantly, leading off the fifth inning, homered into the right field seats to cut the Cleveland lead to 3-1.

Tomlin was removed from the game after 5 1/3 innings, and Indians manager Terry Francona used the remainder of the contest to get some work for his relievers in preparation for the postseason. Joe Smith, Tyler Olson, Zach McAllister, Andrew Miller, Bryan Shaw and Allen shared the last 3 2/3 innings.

The seven Cleveland pitchers combined to strike out 14. Indians pitchers finished with 1,445 strikeouts, the fourth consecutive year they have led the American League in strikeouts.

NOTES: Indians manager Terry Francona declined to announce his rotation for the American League Division Series that begins Thursday at Progressive Field. Among other decisions to be made is whether OF Michael Brantley will be on the postseason roster. . . The Indians drew over 2 million fans at home this year for the first time since 2008. . . The White Sox hit .281 vs. left-handed pitchers this year, the second-best mark in the majors. OF Avisail Garcia led the majors with a .424 average vs. lefties, and 1B Jose Abreu was eighth at .356. . . Sunday was the final road broadcast for White Sox television announcer Hawk Harrelson. Next year Harrelson will work primarily Sunday home games in his 34th and final season in the broadcast booth.