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White Sox spoil Carrasco's home return, beat Indians 6-5
CLEVELAND (AP) — Carlos Carrasco's return to Progressive Field didn't produce the results he wanted.
Carrasco received a standing ovation in his first appearance at home since being diagnosed with leukemia, but gave up home runs to James McCann and Eloy Jiménez in the eighth inning that lifted the Chicago White Sox over the Cleveland Indians 6-5 Tuesday night.
Carrasco entered the game with a 5-2 lead, but gave up a three-run homer to McCann, which was followed by Jiménez's second homer of the game.
"I made a mistake," Carrasco said. "The two homers — it was a hanging slider. That's what happened. That's what cost us the game right there."
Cleveland missed a chance to move into a virtual tie with Tampa Bay for the AL wild-card lead. The White Sox ended a season-high seven-game losing streak.
The crowd of 17,397 came to its feet when Carrasco ran through the bullpen gate and chanted "Cookie" — the right-hander's nickname.
Carrasco (4-7) entered after Roberto Pérez's three-homer in the seventh gave Cleveland a 5-2 lead. Carrasco gave up singles to Leury García and Tim Anderson, but struck out José Abreu and Yoán Moncada.
With the fans on their feet again, McCann startled the crowd by homering into the bleachers to tie the game. Jiménez followed with a towering drive to right that cleared the wall despite a leaping attempt by Yasiel Puig.
"I thought when he got Moncada that he was OK," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He hung a breaking ball to a guy who knows what to do with it."
The inning finally ended when Carrasco fielded Daniel Palka's high chopper and ran to first for the out. He was given another ovation when he left the field.
Francona said he wanted to use Carrasco in low-pressure situations as he returned, but Cleveland needed five relievers in Monday night's 11-3 win.
Carrasco, diagnosed with a treatable form of leukemia in June, pitched an inning in Tampa Bay on Sunday. Carrasco said Monday that his whole body was shaking when he was on the field, but he knew his first appearance at home would be even more emotional.
"That was good, all the fans right there," Carrasco said of the reception. "As soon as I started running down to the mound. That was great. It was unbelievable."
White Sox manager Rick Renteria said even his team felt the emotion of the moment.
"It was outstanding," he said. "Even our guys were applauding him. Listen, you know what, when you realize there are things that are certainly more important than what we do and for him coming back this year after having been diagnosed, treated and gone through everything, God bless him. Good for him and happy for him."
Cleveland has lost four of five and trails Minnesota by 6½ games in the AL Central
Jiménez had an RBI double in the second and a solo homer in the seventh off Mike Clevinger. The rookie left fielder recorded his fourth career two-homer game.
Evan Marshall (4-2) got the win despite allowing Pérez's home run. Alex Colomé survived Franmil Reyes' flyout to deep right in the ninth for his 26th save.
Francisco Lindor homered in the first. Jiménez tied the game in the second with an RBI double. Pérez broke the tie with an RBI single in the fifth, but Jiménez homered in the seventh.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: LHP Manny Bañuelos sustained a bruised foot when he was struck by a groundball in the eighth inning Monday.
Indians: RHP Danny Salazar (sore shoulder and groin) returned to his home in Tampa. Francona said Salazar experienced some physical issues while on a minor league rehab assignment and asked for some time away. Salazar made one appearance for Cleveland last month before going back on the injured list.
SWING AND A DRIVE
Jiménez wasn't sure he ball he hit in the eighth inning would reach the seats.
"I don't want to lie to you, I first thought I might be out at the warning track but when I saw that Puig kept running, I was like 'Oh my God' and when I saw it was gone, that was amazing for me," he said.
TAKING HIS CUTS
Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis missed his third straight game with tendinitis in his right wrist. He took batting practice on the field before the game.
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP Iván Nova (9-11, 4.48 ERA) has been dominant in his last eight starts, going 5-2 and allowing nine earned runs in 52 innings.
Indians: RHP Shane Bieber (12-7, 3.27 ERA) has lost his last three decisions. The All-Star Game MVP hasn't won since Aug. 9.
