Raburn tags White Sox ace Sale, leads Indians to 3-2 win

CHICAGO (AP) - Chris Sale considers it his job to stop losing streaks and extend winning streaks. That's why he believes he let down his Chicago White Sox teammates on Monday.

Ryan Raburn hit a pair of solo home runs and Trevor Bauer pitched two-hit ball for seven innings as the Cleveland Indians ended Chicago's four-game winning string, 3-2 Monday.

Raburn has eight multihomer games in his career, four of them against the White Sox. He connected both times against Sale and is 10 for 33 with four home runs lifetime versus the lefty ace.

"Today was my day to pick them up and I didn't," Sale said. "I need to be that guy to be able to pick up my team, because they've picked me up my last time out. The only two losses we've had in the last week were on my day, so I've got to do something to change that and come out fighting next time."

Raburn, who only plays against left-handers, is 7 for 18 (.389) with three homers and five runs batted in Chicago this season. For his career, he's hitting .296 with 20 homers and 82 RBI against the White Sox.

"I think everybody's got those places where they do well in," he said. "Fortunately, for me, this is one of them because we play them so much. Hopefully, it continues tomorrow."

Sale (12-8) struck out eight in seven innings. He has fanned 247 this year, nearing the single-season team record of 269 set by Ed Walsh in 1908.

"It stinks giving up homers," Sale said. "Usually solo shots don't hurt you, but when you give up damn near a handful of them, it's tough."

Bauer (11-11) shrugged off a lack of command early to allow two runs on two hits in seven innings. He walked five and struck out six.

Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his 29th save, completing the combined three-hitter.

The White Sox took a 2-0 lead in the second before getting a hit. Bauer started the inning by walking Avisail Garcia, J.B. Shuck and Mike Olt on 12 pitches.

Carlos Sanchez drove in the first run with a groundout and Tyler Fowlers had a sacrifice fly, but Bauer was happy to escape with just the two runs scoring.

The Indians tied it in the fourth on solo home runs by Mike Aviles and Raburn.

In the sixth inning, Raburn gave Cleveland a 3-2 lead when he hit another solo homer, a 425-foot drive over the left-field bullpen and into the bleachers.

"I don't know," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said when asked to explain Raburn's success against his team. "We've seen him and he's been good. He must like hitting here or against our guys. I don't know. Maybe it just suits his eye."

SIXTH MAN

Ventura said before the game the White Sox likely will go to a six-man rotation with Erik Johnson, who started Sunday, getting more opportunities in the final month. "I think the way he threw, he gets another shot at going out there," Ventura said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco (shoulder inflammation) will be activated from the disabled list on Tuesday and is scheduled to start the second game of the series.

White Sox: C Tyler Flowers left the game in the seventh inning after being hit in the left hand by a pitch in the fourth. X-rays were negative ... DH/1B Adam LaRoche missed the game with patella tendinitis in his right knee.

UP NEXT

The series resumes Tuesday night with Indians RHP Carlos Carrasco (12-9, 3.53 ERA) facing rookie LHP Carlos Rodon (6-6, 4.10). This will be Rodon's 21st start of the season. He is 2-2 with a 1.85 ERA in his last five starts.