Carrasco, Luplow lead Indians to shut out White Sox

Jordan Luplow belted his first two homers of the season, and Carlos Carrasco tossed five solid innings as the host Cleveland Indians posted a 5-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday afternoon in a rain-shortened game. Crew chief Jerry Meals called for the infield tarp at 2:54 p.m. ET with Cleveland holding a 5-0 lead through five innings. A rain delay lasted more than 2 1/2 hours before the game was officially called.

Luplow recorded his second career two-homer performance, going deep to lead off the second inning and again with one out in the fifth. The 25-year-old also homered twice while playing for Pittsburgh in a 6-2 win versus Milwaukee on July 14, 2018. Jake Bauers scored from second base on a wild pitch and also crossed the plate on Francisco Lindor's RBI double for the Indians, who won back-to-back contests to salvage a split of the four-game series.

Carrasco (3-3) avenged his previous start, in which he allowed a career-high four homers, by scattering two hits and striking out six without walking a batter. Cleveland ended its streak of surrendering the first run in eight straight games by jumping out to an early lead, courtesy of the first of two majestic homers by Luplow.

Luplow deposited a 1-1 curveball from Manny Banuelos (2-2) into the bleachers in left field in the second inning. After a strikeout, Banuelos issued two straight walks and uncorked a wild pitch that caromed wildly off the wall behind home plate, allowing an alert Bauers to score from second base.

Luplow sent a 2-1 slider from Banuelos over the wall in centre field to give the Indians a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning. Cleveland tacked on two more runs in the frame, albeit in unconventional manners.

Carlos Gonzalez scored after Roberto Perez's hot shot handcuffed the third baseman Yoan Moncada. Bauers crossed the plate after White Sox right fielder Charlie Tilson slipped on the slick grass and tumbled backwards, allowing Lindor's fly ball to fall for an RBI double. Banuelos permitted five runs and as many walks with eight hits and five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings to take the loss.

(With inputs from agencies.)