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Indians seek fifth straight home win vs. White Sox

Sep 26, 2006 - 1:57 PM Chi White Sox (87-70) at Cleveland (73-83) 7:05 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians helped bring the playoff hopes of the Chicago White Sox to a humiliating end Monday. On Tuesday, the Indians shoot for a fifth consecutive home victory against the reigning World Series champions.

Casey Blake capped an eight-run sixth inning with a grand slam as Cleveland posted a 14-1 victory in the opener of a three-game series here. That loss coupled with a win by Minnesota mathematically eliminated Chicago's chances at a second consecutive postseason appearance.

The White Sox have allowed at least six runs in each of their last six games overall, going 2-4 in that span to fall to a disappointing 30-39 since the All-Star break. Chicago has lost each of the last eight games started by Javier Vazquez (11-10, 4.66 ERA), averaging just 2.25 runs per game in that span.

Vazquez allowed five runs - three earned - and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings of a 9-0 loss to Seattle on Thursday. The righthander recorded 12 strikeouts in that game, marking the third time in four starts this month he has reached double figures in that category.

Vazquez has gone 3-1 with a 3.51 ERA in seven lifetime starts against the Indians, who counter with C.C. Sabathia (11-11, 3.36). The burly Sabathia has won all three decisions against the White Sox this season, improving to 11-3 with a 3.89 ERA in 19 career meetings with Chicago.

Sabathia surrendered seven runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-4 loss at Oakland on Thursday, falling to 1-3 with a 4.13 ERA this month. The ace lefthander went 4-1 with a 1.45 ERA in six starts last September.