CLEVELAND (AP) – Roberto Perez drew a bases-loaded walk on four pitches from Dylan Covey in the eighth inning as the Cleveland Indians rallied for a chilly 5-3 win in their home opener over the Chicago White Sox on Monday.
The Indians, whose bats have started out as cold as the weather, did just enough – and got some needed help from the wild White Sox – to score four runs in the eighth after nearly wasting starter Mike Clevinger’s dominant performance.
Clevinger allowed one hit in seven innings, striking out 12.
After the dreadful outing by Covey (0-1), Caleb Frare came in and walked pinch-hitter Greg Allen on five pitches to force in another run and give the Indians a 5-3 lead. White Sox manager Rick Renteria made several visits to the mound in the eighth to try and get his relievers on target, with minimal success.
Cleveland’s Jon Edwards (2-0) picked up the win despite giving up a two-run homer to White Sox rookie Ryan Cordell in the eighth. Brad Hand worked the ninth for his second save.
Perez’s go-ahead walk came after the Indians fell behind 3-1 and fought back against Covey, who was hurt by second baseman Yolmer Sanchez’s error. Max Moroff added an RBI single as the Indians tied it at 3-all.
Down 1-0 after flailing at Clevinger for seven innings, the White Sox scored three in the eighth, highlighted by Cordell’s shot to center off Edwards.
Clevinger overpowered Chicago’s hitters before leaving after 106 pitches. He was replaced by Adam Cimber, who was in trouble right away when he threw Jose Rondon’s slow roller past first for an error. After a sacrifice, Oliver Perez came on and allowed Yoan Mocada’s RBI double.
Cordell, who had 37 at-bats last season after being promoted from Triple-A Charlotte, then drove a 1-0 pitch over the wall.
