CLEVELAND (AP) — Jose Ramirez delivered a go-ahead, two-run double within the seventh inning and the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 5-Four Thursday evening for a four-game sweep in a matchup of playoff-bound groups.

The victory pulled the Indians inside one recreation of Chicago for the fourth seed and home-field benefit within the first spherical of the postseason. Idle Minnesota leads the White Sox by one recreation within the AL Central with three to play.

The Indians have received 5 straight and the White Sox have misplaced a season-high 5 in a row.

”If there’s anybody you’d need on the plate proper now, it must be Jose,” Cleveland pitcher Zach Plesac mentioned. ”He is at subsequent degree. Subsequent degree. It is so cool watching him hit.”

Chicago scored thrice within the high of the seventh to take a 4-1 lead, however the Indians answered with 4 within the backside half. Ramirez’s two-out double to heart off Carlos Rodon (0-2) drove in Cesar Hernandez and Delino DeShields.

”My expectation didn’t come to fruition with what I assumed we had been going to see,” White Sox supervisor Rick Renteria mentioned. ”If all people desires to place it on me, put it on me.”

Rodon disagreed, saying, ”I am the one who gave up the hits. Ricky had nothing to do with throwing any of the pitches, so it is not on him.”

On Tuesday evening, Ramirez hit a three-run homer with two outs within the 10th inning to offer Cleveland a 5-Three win over White Sox that clinched a playoff spot.

The AL MVP candidate went 2 for Three within the collection finale and is hitting .485 with eight homers and 20 RBIs over his final 13 video games.

”Jose is lots of enjoyable to look at and he is doing all the pieces proper now,” Indians performing supervisor Sandy Alomar Jr. mentioned. ”All the fellows simply stored combating. This workforce by no means stops battling.”

Cam Hill (2-0) labored 1 1/Three scoreless innings for the win and Brad Hand pitched the ninth for his AL-high 15th save in 15 probabilities.

White Sox starter Dallas Keuchel allowed one run in six innings in his second begin since a stint on the injured listing with again spasms. The left-hander went 1-Zero with a 0.45 ERA in 4 September outings, decreasing his season mark to 1.99, second-best within the AL.

”It is a little bit somber,” Keuchel mentioned. ”I believe we take all losses arduous, which makes it robust. We have been taking part in some actually good baseball, however we have simply been out-executed.”

Plesac went 6 2/Three innings, surrendering 4 runs and putting out seven. He was chased within the seventh after Nomar Mazara singled house two runs, which was preceded by an RBI groundout by Yasmani Grandal.

”There’s a particular feeling on this clubhouse, like we all know we’ll win ballgames day by day,” Plesac mentioned. ”All of it looks like a dream. We’re simply going to get pleasure from these moments collectively since you by no means know when it should finish.”

Yolmer Sanchez hit his first homer since July 19, 2019, to place the White Sox up 1-Zero within the third. It was the primary run scored by Chicago towards Plesac in 16 1/Three innings this season.

RESTING ROOKIE

White Sox OF Luis Robert, who’s mired in a 0-for-28 droop and does not have successful since Sept. 15, was not within the lineup. The 23-year-old Cuban leads all rookies with 30 RBIs and is tied for first with 11 homers, however has simply six hits in his final 70 at-bats (.086).

”The fact is you have got a younger man coming into the massive leagues, and regardless of how proficient you’re, you hit a wall,” Renteria mentioned. ”No one desires to see the wall be hit, however you hit a wall.”

HONEST ANSWER

The White Sox fell out of the division lead for the primary time since Sept. Four once they misplaced Wednesday. Renteria admitted their struggles are taking a toll. ”There’s this perception that gamers do not lose their confidence or their belief, however that is not true,” he mentioned earlier than the sport. ”Each single one in all us loses confidence and belief in ourselves at instances.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: OF Eloy Jimenez (proper foot soreness) left the sport within the seventh inning after sliding into house plate considerably awkwardly. His standing will probably be up to date Friday.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP Dylan Stop (5-3, 3.52 ERA) opens a three-game collection at Assured Fee Subject towards Cubs RHP Yu Darvish. The White Sox took two of three from their Windy Metropolis rivals at Wrigley Subject from Aug. 21-23.

Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco (3-4, 2.90 ERA) takes the hill towards Pirates RHP Mitch Keller as Cleveland wraps up the common season with three house video games. Carrasco struck out a season-high 11 at Detroit on Sept. 20.

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