CLEVELAND (AP) — Romy González's two-run double broke a seventh-inning tie and sent the Chicago White Sox to a 4-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night.
González snapped a 2-2 tie with his hard hit off rookie Logan Allen (1-2), who was probably left in the game one batter too many by manager Terry Francona.
Yasmani Grandal homered for the White Sox, who started 7-21 but have won six of eight to stay within striking distance in the wide open and winnable AL Central.
Chicago's rally helped Dylan Cease (3-3) win for the first time since April 10 — a span of eight starts. The right-hander went six innings, Keynan Middleton and Joe Kelly pitched an inning apiece and Kendall Graveman worked the ninth for his fourth save.
Rookie Will Brennan hit a solo homer for the Guardians.
Josh Naylor's RBI double in the sixth gave Cleveland a 2-1 lead, but the White Sox countered with three runs in the seventh.
Allen gave up a leadoff single to Andrew Vaughn and Andrew Benintendi doubled. Grandal followed with a chopper that star third baseman José Ramírez misplayed for an error that allowed Vaughn to score.
Allen loaded the bases with a walk to Clint Frazier and, although Francona had reliever Enyel De Los Santos warming up in the bullpen and ready, the manager stuck with his left-hander and González made him pay with his double to left.
Allen, who retired his first 11 hitters in order, got two strikes on Grandal in the fifth before Chicago's catcher connected for a 414-foot homer. Grandal came in batting .354 (17 of 48) in his last 14 games.
Brennan, who accidentally killed a bird with a batted ball in Monday's game, put the Guardians up 1-0 in the third with his second homer.
As he rounded second base and looked toward Cleveland's dugout, Brennan locked his thumbs in front of his chest and wiggled his fingers as if imitating a bird's wings.
SWINGS AND MISSES
Chicago's Jake Burger struck out five times, four swinging and looking in the ninth.
FEATHERED FRIEND
The unfortunate meeting of baseball and bird remained a topic of conversation.
Brennan's inadvertent shot in the second inning struck the winged animal as it walked in the infield grass.
At first, Cleveland manager Terry Francona thought Brennan's ball had connected with the PitchCom system.
“I’m like, how did he knock it off the catcher," Francona said. “Like I couldn’t figure out how it got out there. That’s all I could thought it could be. And then I realized we had a death in the family. I’m assuming we had a death in the family.”
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: OF Luis Robert Jr. left after the eighth with right hip tightness. ... OF Eloy Jiménez (appendectomy) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Birmingham this week. Manager Pedro Grifol said Jiménez will play the outfield and DH before being recalled. He's been out since May 6. ... 2B Elvis Andrus (strained oblique) ran in the outfield and Grifol aid he'll likely begin a rehab assignment next week. Andrus got hurt while making a swing against Houston on May 12.
Guardians: RHP Aaron Civale (strained oblique) was scheduled to make his second rehab start for Triple-A Columbus.
UP NEXT
Chicago RHP Michael Kopech (2-4, 4.83) starts the series finale against Cal Quantrill (2-2, 4.06).
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