Yu Chang hit a tiebreaking, two-run triple to cap a five-run sixth inning, and the Cleveland Indians held on for a 12-11 win over the host Chicago White Sox on Saturday night.
Rookie infielder Owen Miller hit his first career home run for the Indians. Amed Rosario and Austin Hedges also homered for Cleveland, which scored 12-plus runs for the third time this season.
Seby Zavala hit three home runs and drove in six runs in a breakout performance for Chicago. The 27-year-old backup catcher entered the game with no home runs and one RBI in 17 career games, and he became the first player in major league history to hit his first three home runs in the same game.
Indians right-hander Justin Garza (1-0) picked up his first career victory. He tossed two scoreless innings of relief, walking one and striking out three.
White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech (3-1) took the loss in a rare meltdown out of the bullpen. He surrendered five runs on five hits in one inning, and his ERA climbed from 1.52 to 2.55.
Indians closer Emmanuel Clase notched his 13th save.
Chicago built a 2-0 lead behind two solo home runs. Brian Goodwin hit his fifth homer in the second, and Zavala connected in the third for the first of his career.
Rosario sliced the deficit to 2-1 in the fourth thanks to his sixth homer.
Zavala struck again in the bottom of the fourth with a grand slam to increase the Chicago advantage to 6-1. The San Diego State product turned on a 2-0 fastball and clubbed it over the wall in left field.
Miller and Hedges homered in the fifth as the Indians pulled within 6-3.
Cleveland went ahead for good in the sixth. Franmil Reyes, Oscar Mercado and Hedges each drove in one run to knot the score at 6-6, and Chang’s triple put the Indians on top.
In the seventh, Harold Ramirez hit a two-run double to give the Indians a 10-6 lead.
Zavala hit his third homer in the bottom of the frame. The next batter, Tim Anderson, doubled and later scored to trim the deficit to 10-8.
The Indians made it 12-8 in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Rosario and an RBI double by Jose Ramirez.
Chicago finished the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Engel drilled a two-run homer and Jose Abreu ripped an RBI single.
–Field Level Media