CLEVELAND—Asdrubal Cabrera drove in five runs and Jeanmar Gomez won his fifth straight start for Cleveland as the Indians beat the White Sox 11-2 on Thursday night to remain in second place in the AL Central.Gomez (5-2) gave up one earned run and four hits over six innings. Since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Aug. 30, the right-hander is 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA. Cabrera hit a three-run homer and tied his career-high for RBIs. Kosuke Fukudome added three RBIs and Travis Hafner singled for his 1,000th career hit as Cleveland moved 1½ games ahead of the White Sox.Fukudome’s two-out, two-run single off Phillip Humber (9-9) in the fifth inning broke a 2-2 tie.Fukudome had driven Humber’s second pitch of the game over the wall in right for his fifth homer. Four pitches later, Jason Kipnis hit his seventh for a 2-0 lead.It was the fourth time in Indians history and only the second time at home that Cleveland opened a game with two homers. Graig Nettles and Vada Pinson did it on June 19, 1971, at old Cleveland Stadium.Cabrera’s three-run homer in the seventh was his 25th of the season. That set an Indians record for a shortstop, surpassing Jhonny Peralta’s 24 in 2005. Cabrera added a two-run single in the eighth.An error by Cabrera at shortstop helped the Sox tie it at 2 in the fifth.With two outs and runners on first and second, Juan Pierre singled home Alejandro De Aza. Cabrera took the throw from right fielder Fukudome and threw wildly trying to get Brent Morel at third. Third baseman Jack Hannahan tracked down the ball and fired home, but Morel slid in safely with an unearned run.The White Sox almost caught a break in the bottom half. Humber had retired 14 straight until Hannahan drew a two-out walk and apparently scored on a slicing drive down the left-field line by Ezequiel Carrera that looked like an RBI triple. Ozzie Guillen argued that a fan reached over a railing and touched the ball. The umpires huddled, agreed, and sent Hannahan back to third, ruling that Carrera got a ground-rule double.Fukudome’s soft line drive to left scored them both anyway.Humber gave up seven runs and eight hits over six innings. Fukudome went 2 for 3 against him to improve to 4 for 10 against the right-hander since being acquired by Cleveland from the Cubs in July.Earlier this season, Fukudome gave even more pain to Humber. On Aug. 18 in Chicago, he lined a ball off the pitcher’s face, just above the right eye. Humber was on the disabled list until Sept. 2.
NOTES—The Sox won the season series 11-7. …Omar Vizquel and Cleveland DH Jim Thome exchanged the lineup cards – a first for both former Indians teammates who have a combined 44 seasons and 5,388 games in the majors. “I hope it’s not the last time we see these guys on the same field somewhere,” Guillen said. “The next stop for both is the Hall of Fame, but they can still play.” … The Indians will salute Thome on Friday for surpassing 600 career homers and his other contributions. Before Thursday’s game, Acta said the 41-year-old Thome would start at DH in Hafner’s place Friday. “Even if Hafner hits three homers tonight, Jimmy is playing,” Acta said. “Well, maybe three homers would change my mind.” … The last time the Indians hit two homers to open a game, Grady Sizemore and Casey Blake did it in Kansas City on May 23, 2007. … RHP Justin Masterson (12-10) will oppose RHP Carl Pavano (8-13) on Friday night when Cleveland opens a four-game home series against Minnesota. … The White Sox open a three-game series at home against Kansas City on Friday with Zach Stewart (2-5) facing Royals LHP Bruce Chen (11-8).