Jose Abreu hit his fifth home run and added a two-run double, and Jeff Samardzjia picked up his first win with his new club as the Chicago White Sox shut out the Cleveland Indians 6-0 in Wednesday's lone afternoon game.
Abreu took a 1-0 fastball from Corey Kluber the other way for a first inning solo home run (5) that gave Samardzija all the offense he would need (video).
Abreu, though, was not finished driving in runs. With his team up 4-0 in the seventh, he lined a Kluber breaking ball off the left-field wall to drive in two more (video). Adam Eaton and Melky Cabrera both singled ahead of Abreu to score the fifth and six runs for Chicago. Cabrera's hit drove home Micah Johnson, who led off the inning with a single. Abreu's double knocked Kluber out of the game.
Abreu plated another run in the third, but since the run scored on a double-play ground ball, he does not get credit for the RBI.
Chicago's other run came in the sixth via Avisail Garcia, who scored on Kluber's wild pitch.
Samardzija (W: 1-1, 3.33 ERA) pitched six scoreless innings in picking up his first White Sox win. However, it was not easy. He pitched a perfect first inning but had to get out of third-inning bases-loaded jam along with other multiple-runner innings. In all, Cleveland left eight runners stranded with Samardzija pitching and 11 overall in the game. Samardzija allowed six hits while walking two and striking out three.
Kluber (L: 0-2. 3.90) pitched 6+ innings, allowing all six White Sox runs, all earned, on 13 hits. He walked one and struck out six.
Cleveland will enjoy a day off Thursday while Chicago stays home and opens a four-game weekend series with A.L. Central foes, the Kansas City Royals. Cleveland will visit the Detroit Tigers over the weekend beginning Friday.