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Vazquez helps White Sox avoid sweep

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:43 PM By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Chicago White Sox needed a win and their manager knew it.

Javier Vazquez pitched six strong innings and the Chicago White Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians 4-2, on Wednesday.

Nick Swisher and Alexei Ramirez both homered for the White Sox, who avoided a three-game sweep.

The win moved Chicago one-half game ahead of the Minnesota Twins for first place in the American League Central Division. The Twins play at Toronto on Wednesday night.

"We needed this win," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

With Chicago leading, 4-2, in the eighth and the Indians threatening with runners on the corners and one out, Guillen wasted no time in going to his closer Bobby Jenks for a multiple-inning save.

"I don't like to do that," Guillen said. "We took a gamble."

The move worked as Jenks induced Ryan Garko into an inning-ending double play. Jenks went to work a scoreless ninth for his 28th save in 31 chances.

"I was trying to get a ground ball and threw a sinker in," Jenks said. "That was the biggest pitch of the game."

It was the first time that Jenks has recorded a save of an inning or more since September 13, 2005, at Kansas City.

"We have been talking about this for the last week," Jenks said. "It doesn't bother me."

Vazquez (11-12) held the Indians to two runs on five hits. The righthander was in control until the sixth, when he allowed a double to Jhonny Peralta that cut the White Sox's advantage in half, 4-2.

"It was important game," Vazquez said. "To make the playoffs we have to win. Every game is important from here on out."

Cleveland stranded seven batters on base and went a woeful 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

"We created multiple opportunities where we were one swing of the bat away from tying or taking the lead," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "We had our chances, we just didn't come through."

Swisher hit a solo home run to lead off the fifth to stake the White Sox to a 1-0 lead. He blasted Jeremy Sowers' 2-1 offering an estimated 410 feet for his 23rd home run.

Orlando Cabrera added a two-out RBI double later in the fifth after Josh Fields hit a one-out single.

Ramirez's homer, a two-run blast, extended the lead to 4-0. Jermaine Dye singled to start the inning and Ramirez followed with his 16th home run one out later to end Sowers' afternoon.

Sowers (2-8) retired the first nine batters he faced but started to struggle in the fourth. The Cleveland lefthander allowed four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.

"I felt like he was better early," said Wedge of Sowers. "He slipped out of it when we got in the middle innings. He has to command the ball better and control the plate."