CHICAGO (AP) - After the Chicago White Sox continued their tear-down on Sunday, two players they hope will be part of the eventual rebuild led them to a much-needed win.
Matt Davidson hit his first career walk-off home run, Carlos Rodon had his longest start of the season and the White Sox beat Cleveland 3-1 to end the Indians’ nine-game winning streak.
The White Sox snapped a seven-game home losing streak and won for just the second time in 16 games. The team also traded fan favorite Melky Cabrera to Kansas City shortly before the first pitch as part of a roster overhaul.
Jose Abreu got the ninth-inning rally started with a double off Bryan Shaw (4-5) to set up Davidson’s heroics, his 21st home run of his rookie season.
“It’s been a rough go for us, so to get that feeling and get that win was huge for us,” Davidson said. “We needed it really bad. We’re working hard, but it’s been a tough go. That’s why these things probably mean more than just a normal win.”
Tyler Clippard (2-6) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the win, the first for the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field since July 2. That game featured strong pitching from Jose Quintana and David Robertson, both of whom have since been traded.
Rodon allowed one run and struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings. He has 20 strikeouts over his last two starts.
“The outing that he had today, based on the skill set that he has, is what we’re hoping that he will continue to become,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “Obviously, everybody knows what he can do with the baseball. A very strong man with great life on his pitches.”
Francisco Lindor extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a third-inning homer, his 16th, giving first-place Cleveland a 1-0 lead. The Indians were 1 for 14 with runners on base.
Josh Tomlin threw four innings of no-hit ball before being removed from the game because of left hamstring tightness. He allowed two baserunners. It was Tomlin’s first scoreless start since Sept. 20, 2015 against the White Sox, and it was the third game in five days where the opposition took a no-hitter into the fifth inning against Chicago.
Indians manager Terry Francona said Tomlin hurt himself fielding a ground ball in the fourth.
“On that ground ball, I don’t know if he hit the rubber but it grabbed him a little bit,” Francona said. “When we were watching him warm up, it didn’t look good. … He’ll fight you tooth and nail to stay in a game, part of why we like him so much. But we also can’t let him hurt himself.”
Tomlin did lobby to stay in.
“I understand we’re short-handed in the pen. You never want to put them in a bind. You also don’t want to cost them a game by trying to compensate either,” Tomlin said. “It’s kind of a tough situation. They made a decision that was probably the right one.”
Nick Goody relieved Tomlin and struck out the first five batters he faced until allowing a home run to Leury Garcia with two outs in the sixth, tying the game at 1.
With two runners on and two out in the seventh, Rodon gave way to Jake Petricka, who retired Lindor on a flyout. Petricka has stranded all eight runners he’s inherited this season.
STARTING STRONG
Cleveland starting pitchers are 8-0 with a 3.13 ERA over the last 10 starts.
THE SALE CONTINUES
The White Sox continued to replenish their farm system on Sunday, trading Cabrera to Kansas City for pitchers A.J. Puckett and Andre Davis.
“I will go there try to help the team win games,” Cabrera said after he was pulled from the lineup because of the trade. “They acquired me for a reason. I hope to help them.”
Cabrera played for the Royals in 2011.
In the past year, the White Sox have also traded starting pitchers Chris Sale and Quintana, OF Adam Eaton, 3B Todd Frazier, and relievers Robertson, Tommy Kahnle, Anthony Swarzak and Dan Jennings.
The non-waiver trade deadline is Monday afternoon.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: INF Jason Kipnis (right hamstring strain) started his rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Columbus, playing second base in the opener of a doubleheader. Francona said a timetable for Kipnis’ return has not been finalized. “There’s got to be a little bit of progression or I think you’re asking for guys to maybe hurt something else if you don’t,” Francona said.
White Sox: OF Leury Garcia (sprained left finger) was reinstated from the disabled list before the game, taking Cabrera’s roster spot. Garcia took part in a rehab assignment last week at the Arizona Rookie League and Triple-A Charlotte.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Mike Clevinger (5-3, 3.20) will start as Cleveland opens a three-game set in Boston against RHP Doug Fister (0-5, 7.46). Clevinger’s road ERA of 2.15 is lowest in the AL for pitchers with at least seven road starts.
White Sox: RHP James Shields (2-3, 5.86) will pitch against Toronto in the opener of a three-game series against RHP Marco Estrada (4-7, 5.43). Chicago is 20-10 against the Blue Jays since 2013.
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