CLEVELAND—From optimism to emptiness in one day.The Cleveland Indians are off to the start they couldn’t afford.Playing before the smallest home crowd in 18 seasons, they dropped to 0-2 on Saturday following an 8-3 loss to the White Sox, who battered Cleveland’s starting pitcher for the second straight day and knocked whatever hope Indians fans carried into 2011.Only 9,853 fans — the fewest since Progressive Field opened in 1994 — witnessed the Indians losing to the White Sox for the eighth time in nine games. One of baseball’s youngest teams, the Indians were counting on some early-season wins to help win back disheartened fans, who have seen the club trade away stars in recent years. Cleveland finished last in the majors in attendance last season, and unless something changes quickly, the club will have that distinction again.Travis Hafner homered for the Tribe.Edwin Jackson extended his mastery of the Indians and Gordon Beckham and Carlos Quentin had two RBI apiece as the White Sox improved to 2-0 — their best start since 2005, when they won the World Series.