Corey Kluber pitched efficiently and deep into the game despite two hours of rain delays. The Indians engineered a two-run comeback off White Sox closer Matt Lindstrom. John Axford entered the ninth with a one-run lead having gone 4-for-4 in save opportunities this season.
In other words, thing were looking bright for the Tribe at grey and soggy U.S. Cellular Field on Sunday afternoon until Axford had an off day for the first time with his new team.
Alexei Ramirez blasted a first-pitch fastball from Axford into the left-field seats for a walk-off two-run homer that spoiled Cleveland’s late rally, prevented the Indians from gaining a split in the four-game series and gave Chicago a 4-3 win.
“We should have had that win,” Axford said. “Kluber pitched an amazing game, especially for the rest that he took midway through [because of the rain]. Bullpen guys coming in, doing their job and then guys coming through in the ninth once again. We keep scoring runs like that in the ninth, we should win those games. Obviously, I just didn’t do my job today.”
The winning rally started when Jordan Danks drew a six-pitch walk. Axford said he tried to get Danks to swing and miss on some pitches just out of the strike zone and didn’t want to “groove one in there,” but he gave Danks credit for laying off the borderline balls. After Alejandro De Aza fouled out, Ramirez came through.
Axford said Ramirez, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a third-inning single, took advantage of a fastball that was supposed to be further in.
“He’s a very aggressive hitter, and [Axford] threw it probably middle-middle,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of Ramirez. “And he’s a hot hitter right now.”
The Indians took a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth with an impressive rally off Lindstrom. It started when first baseman Jose Abreu botched a routine grounder from Michael Brantley. Yan Gomes followed with a single, stroking a slider below the knees to left, and David Murphy singled to bring home Brantley. Mike Aviles then moved Gomes to third and Murphy to second with a sacrifice bunt. After Asdrubal Cabrera grounded out to Abreu, Gomes hustled home when Lindstrom’s 2-1 breaking ball got away from catcher Tyler Flowers.
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