| Chicago Tribune A new month provided a new challenge Tuesday night for the SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS White Sox.
Down to their last out, their resourcefulness allowed them to win their sixth consecutive game and their eighth straight at U.S. Cellular Field. Rookie Alexei Ramirez hit a game-tying home run with two out in the 10th inning off closer Joe Borowski, and Orlando Cabrera's single scored Dewayne Wise with the winning run for a 3-2 victory over Cleveland that set off a wild celebration near the pitcher's mound. The rally overshadowed a brilliant showdown between Sox left-hander John Danks and Cleveland's Cliff Lee. Each pitched eight innings of one-run ball. After Ramirez's homer, Wise delivered a pinch-hit single and stole second base. Cabrera, whose hitting has helped fuel the Sox's resurgence, ripped a single up the middle and Wise's headfirst slide beat center-fielder Grady Sizemore's throw to the plate. Casey Blake's home run off left-hander Matt Thornton with one out in the top of the inning had given the Indians a 2-1 lead. Lee, an 11-game winner, was the first of back-to-back challenges for the Sox, who will oppose fellow left-hander C.C. Sabathia in Wednesday night's series finale. Sabathia, the 2007 American League Cy Young Award winner, is expected to attract a flock of scouts in anticipation of a possible trade. The Sox entered Tuesday night's game with a 17-12 record in games against left-handed starters, a remarkable improvement over their 16-28 mark against lefties last season. They also might receive the services of Paul Konerko soon. The Sox's first baseman said his left oblique muscle felt better after taking several rounds of batting practice, and he may be able to start a short minor-league rehabilitation assignment by the end of this week. Lee, meanwhile, was the third consecutive left-handed starter the Sox have faced. That didn't deter Sox manager Ozzie Guillen from starting left-handed hitting A.J. Pierzynski and third baseman Joe Crede, whose struggles against left-handed pitchers were overshadowed by his defensive miscues. But Pierzynski and Crede proved their manager right. Pierzynski hit two singles against Lee to raise his batting average against lefties to .254. Crede came through with a single in the second -- marking only his seventh hit in 64 at-bats against left-handers -- that moved Jim Thome to second. A walk to Nick Swisher loaded the bases and set up Ramirez's sacrifice fly that gave the Sox a 1-0 lead. In addition to his timely single, Crede alleviated some of the fielding concerns Sox followers have had toward him with exceptional stops on consecutive plays to retire Ben Francisco and Jhonny Peralta to end the fourth. Danks, pitching in front of his father and younger brother, limited the Indians to four hits through eight innings in lowering his season ERA to 2.50. Danks has allowed two runs in his last 26 innings, and he helped his cause by picking two runners off first base. Danks, however, allowed a game-tying homer to Kelly Shoppach in the sixth. Against a Sox team that led the majors in five offensive categories in June, Lee lowered his ERA to 2.26 and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 13 of his 16 starts. Danks has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 14 of his 17 starts. (c) 2008, Chicago Tribune. Visit the Chicago Tribune on the Internet at http://www.chicagotribune.com/ Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. PHOTOS (from MCT Photo Service, 202-383-6099): For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. 1060167 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Related News Topics:
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