CLEVELAND (AP) — Carlos Santana bailed out his closer with one big swing.
Santana hit a leadoff homer in the ninth inning to lift the Cleveland Indians to a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night. The winning drive to center came after Cody Allen yielded Avisail Garcia’s tying double in the top half of the inning.
“Just like we drew it up,” Indians manager Terry Francona joked. “Obviously, emotionally we got punched in the stomach a little bit, but when you’re at home you get the chance to bat last.”
Santana connected on an 0-2 pitch from Nate Jones (2-2) for his 14th homer, stopping Cleveland’s three-game losing streak.
“He tried to save the game but it happened,” Santana said of Allen. “He never put his head down. We tried to fight, especially being at home.”
Jason Kipnis’ RBI double in the eighth put the AL Central-leading Indians in front, but Garcia delivered against Allen (2-3), who blew his second save in 15 chances.
The White Sox are 10-24 since starting the season 23-10. Chicago is 3 1/2 games out in the Central.
“This is a tough one, especially fighting back and getting one in the ninth,” manager Robin Ventura said. “Santana is dangerous. We’ve seen him do it before and he just got one on the barrel.”
Michael Martinez started the Cleveland eighth with a single off Jose Quintana. Rajai Davis struck out, but Kipnis’ line drive to center rolled to the wall and Martinez scored.
Allen retired Alex Avila to start the ninth, but Brett Lawrie doubled and scored on Garcia’s drive to the base of the wall in center.
Signed up
The Indians signed outfielder Will Benson, their first-round pick in the amateur draft. Benson, a high school outfielder from Atlanta, received a $2.5 million signing bonus. He was the 14th overall pick.
