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Indians use long ball to down White Sox

Apr 14, 2013 - 1:56 AM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians scored six runs in the fifth inning and defeated the Chicago White Sox, 9-4, on Saturday.

Mark Reynolds knocked a grand slam and had five RBI while Nick Swisher and Yan Gomes each hit two-run home runs for the Indians.

Cleveland starter Zach McAllister (1-1) fanned six and allowed three runs -- one earned -- on five hits over 6 1/3 innings.

"He's a young pitcher that's gaining experience," said Indians manager Terry Francona. "I thought the command of his fastball today was tremendous. He started the game out ... we gave up a couple of runs, we come right back and he settled in, throwing a lot of quality strikes with his fastball. That's a good way to pitch."

Alejandro De Aza had a two-run homer and Paul Konerko drove in a run for the White Sox, who saw Chris Sale (1-1) struggle, surrendering eight runs in 4 1/3 innings.

"We've kind of had a stretch like this toward the end of last year, so we might as well do it early in the year and then get out of it," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "You just keep plugging away."

The White Sox got on the board in the first. Keppinger knocked a one-out double and scored when Reynolds committed a throwing error attempting to get Alex Rios out. Rios was able to go to second as a result and, two batters later, Konerko singled to right to score Rios.

Ryan Raburn drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the inning, setting up Swisher's homer.

Reynolds hit an RBI single came in the third, scoring Swisher, who doubled to deep left with two outs.

In the fifth, Asdrubal Cabrera singled and Ryan Raburn doubled, putting runners on second and third. Swisher was then hit by a pitch, loading the bases. The free-swinging Reynolds then hit his grand slam on a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall. Afterwards, Michael Brantley was hit by a pitch and Gomes homered two batters later.

De Aza's two-run shot came in the seventh off reliever Bryan Shaw, who came in to replace McAllister after he hit Alexei Ramirez.

Joe Smith came on to pitch in the ninth for Cleveland. He allowed a double by Ramirez but struck out Tyler Flowers to end the game.

Game Notes

Jason Kipnis was scratched (left elbow soreness, day-to-day) and was replaced by Raburn, who went 1-for-4 with a double and two runs scored ... Reynolds had a stolen base, his first since May 6, 2012 against Boston ... Swisher came into the game 0-for-5 with three strikeouts lifetime against Sale ... Cleveland center fielder Michael Bourn is 1-for-13 lifetime against Sale ... The White Sox start the season 0-5 on the road for the first time since 1972.