Bieber strikes out 9, Indians hold on for 8-6 win over White Sox

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber struck out nine over seven innings to snap a three-game losing streak and Franmil Reyes hit a two-run homer as the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 8-6 on Wednesday night.

All-Star Game MVP Bieber (13-7) allowed two runs and six hits in winning for the first time in five starts since Aug. 9. The right-hander also earned his first victory over the White Sox in three outings this season.

The Indians are in a tight race with Oakland and Tampa Bay for the second wild card spot in the AL.

Reyes belted his 34th home run — his seventh since being acquired from San Diego — to extend Cleveland’s lead to 6-2 in the fifth. He is batting .400 with five homers and 15 RBIs over his last 12 contests.

The Indians held an 8-2 advantage in the eighth before José Abreu and Tim Anderson each hit two-run homers for Chicago, the latter off closer Brad Hand.

Nick Wittgren replaced Hand with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth, retiring Eloy Jiménez when Oscar Mercado made a spectacular leaping catch in center field, then struck out Ryan Goins for his fourth save.

Mercado had three hits and fellow rookie Yu Chang singled twice and drove in two runs for Cleveland, which has lost four of six. Reyes scored three times and Yasiel Puig went 2-for-5 with an RBI.

Chicago starter Iván Nova (9-12) gave up six runs and 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander entered the day with the highest opponent batting average in the majors at .294 and ranks second with 198 hits allowed.

Anderson had three hits and two runs. Daniel Palka went hitless in four at-bats, making him 1-for-53 on the season.

DIFFICULT DECISION

Indians manager Terry Francona admitted having second thoughts about using RHP Carlos Carrasco in the eighth inning Tuesday. He gave up a three-run homer to James McCann and a solo shot to Jiménez that gave the White Sox a 6-5 win.

Carrasco, who was diagnosed with a treatable form of leukemia in June, had only made one appearance since being activated two days earlier.

“Maybe I rushed into it a little bit,” Francona said. “That’s what I was thinking about after the game.”

TAKING A LOOK

White Sox 2B Danny Mendick was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte after finishing among the International League leaders with 133 hits, 66 walks and 19 stolen bases. “I’m certainly going to give Danny some starts,” manager Rick Renteria said. “We’re happy he’s here and we’re going to give him an opportunity to enjoy being in the big leagues.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: OF Jon Jay (right hip strain) was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL, officially ending his season. The 34-year-old batted .267 with zero homers and nine RBIs in 47 games. He will be a free agent in November.

Indians: RHP Corey Kluber (left oblique strain) has “got a ways to go” in his recovery, according to Francona. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner was injured in the first inning of a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus on Aug. 18.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP Reynaldo López (8-12, 5.41 ERA) allowed six runs in a career-low 2/3 innings in his last start Aug. 31 at Atlanta. It was the eighth time he has given up at least six runs in 28 appearances this year.

Indians: RHP Zach Plesac (7-5, 3.61 ERA) struck out seven over seven innings and allowed one run in a 2-0 loss at the White Sox on June 2. The rookie is 5-1 with a 3.06 ERA in nine starts at Progressive Field.