Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez homered, Mike Clevinger struck out 11 in seven innings and the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 5-2 on Thursday afternoon.

 

Lindor led off the game against Carlos Rodon with his 15th home run. He also singled and scored in the seventh when Ramirez broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run drive to right-center against Chris Volstad (1-4) for his 20th homer.

 

The Indians got another run with two outs in the eighth when reliever Juan Minaya dropped the throw from first baseman Jose Abreu while covering the bag on Greg Allen's grounder. That allowed Yan Gomes to score from second to make it 5-2.

 

Clevinger (5-2) gave up two runs and five hits while walking just one batter.

 

Cody Allen worked the ninth for his 13th save in 14 chances as the AL Central leaders salvaged a four-game split.

 

Abreu hit a two-run homer in the first. But Clevinger shut down the White Sox the rest of the way, beating them for the second time this season.

 

Rodon went five innings in his second start back from shoulder surgery in September, allowing two runs and two hits. The 25-year-old left-hander walked three and hit two batters while striking out four.

 

RHP Reynaldo Lopez (2-4, 3.26) eyes his second straight win as the White Sox open a three-game series against RHP Mike Fiers (5-3, 4.01) and the Detroit Tigers. 

 

 

>>The Cubs and Cards begin a three-game series today in St. Louis...as it will be Left-hander Jon Lester (7-2, 2.22) starts for the Cubs, opposed by Michael Wacha (8-1, 2.47).  The Cubs hold a 3.5 game lead over the Cards for second place in the NL Central, as they both chase the Milwaukee Brewers a top the division.