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Uribe's homer in the 13th helps White Sox defeat Indians

Aug 9, 2007 - 6:01 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- After two earlier late-inning comebacks, the Chicago White Sox finally outlasted the Cleveland Indians.

Juan Uribe atoned for an earlier error by hitting a game-winning two-run homer off reliever Aaron Fultz in the 13th inning as the White Sox posted a 6-4 victory over the Indians on Wednesday.

A.J. Pierzynski and Jermaine Dye each hit game-tying solo homers for Chicago, which has won five of six.

"It was a long, but fun night with good at-bats by everybody," Dye said. "We feel like we're still in (the playoff chase). We have a lot more games in our division. We know what we need to do to get back into this."

Cleveland lost for the first time in four games and saw its lead in the American League Central remain at one-half game in front of the Detroit Tigers, who lost, 7-1, to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays earlier Wednesday.

With one out in the bottom of the 13th, Scott Podsednik singled to left off Fultz (3-2) before Uribe hit a 1-0 offering over the wall in center to win the game.

"The errors were in the back of my mind," Uribe said through an interpreter of his miscues in both the 10th and 12th innings. "When I got up to bat, I just wanted to put the ball in play and help the team. I'm glad I'm the one that came through, because the game might have been different if I had made the (defensive) plays."

"I think (Uribe's home run) was great," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "When he's patient at the plate, he doesn't know how good he can be. He has some unbelievable talent."

Jose Contreras (6-14), who was making his first relief appearance since September 27, 2003 when he was a member of the New York Yankees, earned the victory after allowing a run and two hits in two innings. It was his first victory in nine appearances - eight starts - since being relegated to bullpen duty after his last outing.

"I have a lot more confidence, after these last two innings," said Contreras through an interpreter. "The manager did the right thing by putting me in the bullpen, and letting me relax a little. When you find that confidence, (my) next start will be different."

After the Indians took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 12th when shortstop Uribe dropped a popup to short left field struck by Kenny Lofton, allowing pinch runner Josh Barfield to score, Pierzynski led off the bottom of the 12th by smashing a 1-2 pitch from Cleveland closer Joe Borowski deep into the seats in right.

"I made a mistake, and one mistake is all it takes," Borowski said. "I just didn't get it in enough. I got it right into the happy zone for a lefty and (Pierzynski) took advantage of it."

Chicago also rallied in the eighth, when Dye hammered a 2-2 pitch from reliever Rafael Betancourt into the seats in left for his 23rd homer to knot the contest at 3-3.

That blast mitigated a strong start by Cleveland starter C.C. Sabathia, who was going for his major league-leading 15th victory. The burly lefthander yielded two runs, six hits and three walks in seven innings.

"C.C. was great for us," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "He pitched a good ball game. He was under control and put us in a great position to win, (but) we just couldn't finish it off for him."

Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano was also going for his 15th victory Wednesday, but lost to the Houston Astros.

Cleveland scored twice off Chicago starter Jon Garland in the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. Pinch hitter Jason Michaels, subbing for Travis Hafner who left the game with left knee tightness, lined a single to right field, scoring Asdrubal Cabrera to tie the game at 2-2. Jhonny Peralta then punched an opposite field base hit to right to give the indians a 3-2 lead.

Garland allowed three runs and six hits, while striking out five in seven innings.