Cleveland Indians: 8th Inning Heroics Lift Tribe

4 - 17 - 10     vs. Chicago White Sox     W, 3 - 2     5 - 6

     Asdrubal Cabrera turned on a fastball and launched it high and deep into the cool afternoon air.  He watched it sail over the fence, and then slowly jogged around the bases to some mild cheering from a small crowd that was more excited about the Cavs' win over the Bulls in the playoffs earlier in the day.  Nonetheless, A - Cab's homer was critical as it tied the game in the bottom of the eighth, and before the inning was over, Shin - Soo Choo had added a RBI double up the alley in left - center field to give the Indians the lead for good.
     Cleveland took the first lead of the game way back in the first on a contoversial play.  After Grady Sizemore tripled, Choo ripped a liner into right.  When Carlos Quentin slipped and fell on the outfield grass, Choo headed to second base,and he beat the throw by plenty.  However, the umpires ruled that Choo had failed to touch first base on his way to second.  Even though the call stood, one glance at the reply convinced even the most casual of observers that the decision was incorrect.  Sizemore was still able to score on the play, giving the Indians the early advantage.
     Chicago ralled to take a 2 - 1 lead on an Alexi Ramirez run - scoring double and a RBI single off the bat of Alex Rios, in the sixth and seventh frames, respectively.
     That set up the dramatic bottom of the eighth.  Following Cabrera's dinger, Sox starter Jake Peavy was pulled in favor of Matt Thornton.  The hard throwing lefty surrendered a single to Sizemore prior to the clutch double from Shin - Soo.
     Paul Konerko nearly tied the game back up again in the 9th, but his long fly ball went just foul down the left field line, and Chris Perez was able to earn the save.
     The Tribe continued to get great pitching as Jake Westbrook threw seven solid innings, and Jensen Lewis earned the win with his scoreless eighth.