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Swisher powers White Sox past Indians

Jul 1, 2008 - 4:48 AM By Gene Chamberlain PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Nick Swisher made certain there would be no letdown Monday by the Chicago White Sox coming off their big weekend series sweep of the Chicago Cubs.

Swisher became the first White Sox player to homer in a game from both sides of the plate more than once in a season, and Jim Thome added a three-run home run to ignite a 9-7 White Sox win over the Cleveland Indians.

"For as long as this organization has been around, to be the first at something is a pretty special thing," said Swisher, who hit his second grand slam in four games as a righthander and added a solo shot lefthanded.

The three home runs helped starter Gavin Floyd improve to 9-4, but the White Sox nearly let an 8-1 lead slip away when Cleveland rallied for three in the ninth.

Behind a career-high five hits from Jhonny Peralta, Cleveland managed to get the tying run in the batter's box in the ninth before Matt Thornton retired Casey Blake on a hard liner to right field for his first save of the season.

"When you're down 8-1 in the second or third inning on the road, it can get to you if you allow it to," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "They kept playing and we were able to bring the tying run up. We're not looking for moral victories, that's for sure, but the flip side of that is we're never going to cave and our guys didn't."

Swisher came over from Oakland in exchange for Ryan Sweeney, Gio Gonzalez and Fautino De Los Santos during the offseason, but struggled at the plate until the last 13 games. In that span, he has batted .349 (15-for-43) with six home runs and 21 RBI to silence a growing number of critics.

"I think I'm finally enjoying the ride," Swisher said. "There were a lot of things that happened to me early in the season that had obviously never happened before and I think through all those trials I went through, it made me a better player and a stronger person.

"Now, I mean, I think your true colors come out when you can deal with adversity."

It was the seventh time in Swisher's career that he homered from both sides in a game. Swisher also homered from both sides June 9 at U.S. Cellular Field. The major league career record for games with homes from both sides of the plate is 11 by Eddie Murray.

Thome's 16th home run of the year in the first let the White Sox overcome a quick 1-0 deficit.

"We kind of kept it going from the weekend," Thome said. "Obviously, Cleveland coming in, they had a very nice club.

"We were fortunate we got out ahead early and kept it moving."

Swisher's third-inning grand slam came with two out after Jermaine Dye's RBI single and capped a five-run outburst against Cleveland starter Jeremy Sowers (0-4) for an 8-1 Chicago lead.

"It was nice that we swung the bat real well," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "But I think we've got to step it up."

Floyd allowed three earned runs, seven hits and two walks in six innings while striking out a career-best 10. He allowed Peralta's RBI first-inning double but settled in after that.

"The first inning I was just trying too hard and trying to get out and get a quick inning and just wasn't throwing strikes," Floyd said. "Then I settled down and relaxed."

The Indians rallied with three in the ninth against reliever Nick Masset as Guillen rested closer Bobby Jenks and setup man Scott Linebrink.

"We had to rest a couple guys today out of the bulllpen," Guillen said. "Gavin was throwing the ball OK. He was in trouble and making big pitches, but when you get a big lead I expect better out of any of my pitchers."