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Indians top White Sox, avoid sweep

Apr 3, 2011 - 9:47 PM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Orlando Cabrera belted a two-run homer and Carlos Santana's diving catch ignited a triple play, as the Cleveland Indians avoided a season-opening series sweep with a 7-1 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Cabrera finished 3-for-4 while Santana and Lou Marson each had two hits for the Indians, who were outscored 23-13 during the first two games of the set.

Justin Masterson (1-0) was efficient in a 98-pitch start, scattering seven hits and giving up one run in seven innings to record the win.

Chicago's starter, John Danks (0-1), was solid for the most part, allowing six hits and two runs in six innings, while totaling eight strikeouts and walking only one. Paul Konerko batted in the White Sox's lone run.

Cleveland recorded the first triple play of the season during the fourth inning. The rare feat was set up by Carlos Quentin's walk and an A.J. Pierzynski single, which put runners on first and second for the White Sox.

Alexei Ramirez attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Santana charged from first base to make a diving catch down the first base line. He then threw to first base to Cabrera, who tossed it to second to tag up both Quentin and Pierzynski.

"You get a couple guys on with no outs," Masterson said of the triple play. "Then you catch a good break... three batters, three outs."

Trailing 1-0 after Omar Vizquel scored in the third on a Konerko single that skirted into left field, the Indians were looking to tie the game in the fifth with runners on the corners and two outs.

But Gordon Beckham bailed out Danks to preserve the shutout, making a leaping catch just behind second base on Asdrubal Cabrera's broken-bat hit.

However, the Indians didn't remain scoreless during the next inning, when Orlando Cabrera launched a two-run shot to left field.

Danks was finished after the inning, and Will Ohman took the mound for Chicago in the seventh. However, Cleveland tacked on two runs to go up 4-1.

"I felt good," Danks said. "I had command pretty much the whole game, but I made a few mistakes that hurt us."

Jack Hannahan, who reached on a walk, scored on Marson's double that sailed deep into right field. Marson moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Michael Brantley, then scored on Asdrubal Cabrera's flyout.

With the bases loaded during the eighth and just one out, the Indians turned the game into a rout. Shelley Duncan's pinch-single scored Travis Hafner and Orlando Cabrera, and Travis Buck touched home on Brantley's sacrifice fly.

Game Notes

The Indians' last triple play was May 12, 2008 against Toronto...The teams split the 18 meetings last season...Danks fell to 3-7 lifetime against Cleveland...Of Masterson's 98 pitches, 63 were strikes...The game's attendance was 8,726, the lowest ever at Progressive Field...Pierzynski and Vizquel each had two hits in the loss.