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Cabrera, Carmona lead Indians past White Sox

Sep 11, 2007 - 6:55 AM By Chris Melnyczenko PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The rain couldn't stop Cleveland from showing why they sit atop of the American League Central.

Asdrubal Cabrera homered and Fausto Carmona pitched seven strong innings as the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 in a rain-soaked affair Monday.

Cabrera's third home run of the season gave the Indians the lead before the game was delayed for two hours and 23 minutes after the seventh inning.

The 21-year-old owns a nine game hitting streak, including hitting in 20 of 26 games. After making his major league debut on August 8th, the Indians are now 17-7 when Cabrera starts.

"We've gotten great reports about (Cabrera) all year at AA," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "He's done a fantastic job. He's been in the middle of everything in the short time he's been here. Obviously, I'm very pleased with the way he's been playing."

Cleveland now sits six games ahead of the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central, after posting a 19-6 record since August 15th.

Chicago has lost eight of their last 12, while Monday's loss was the 10th of the season to Cleveland .

Carmona (16-8) didn't return from the lengthy rain delay. The three hits allowed by the righty matches his lowest hits allowed of the year.

"I feel fine, even though I'm pitching more innings," Carmona said through an interpreter. "I'm taking care of myself, getting my rest, doing all my workouts. I feel strong."

"(Carmona) pitched a great ball game for us," Wedge said. "I feel like he got stronger as the game went on. He made pitches when he needed to, and we made some big plays behind him."

The White Sox scored two runs in the first inning. Josh Field reached on a fielder's choice and Jim Thome followed with a single to center. Two batters later, A.J. Pierzynski's infield single scored Fields. Thome scored on a throwing error by Indians' shortstop Jhonny Peralta on the same play.

Grady Sizemore drove in Chris Gomez in the fifth to bring the score to 2-1.

Kenny Lofton reached base on a perfect bunt to start the seventh, followed with a sacrifice bunt by Gomez to send Lofton to second. A single from Ben Francisco scored Lofton to tie the score 2-2, and to chase Chicago starter Gavin Floyd. Reliever Mike Myers came in for Chicago and gave up the two run blast to Cabrera.

Cleveland added a run in both the eighth and ninth after the delay to cap the scoring. Floyd (1-3) was impressive in his seventh start of the season, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits. The 24-year-old righty also walked two and struck out four over 6 1/3 innings.

"Gavin (Floyd) threw the ball real well," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I'm real happy with his last two starts moving forward."