(Sports Network) – The closest White Sox newcomer Manny Ramirez came to the field last night in Cleveland was the on-deck circle. Ramirez is expected to be the designated hitter in today’s finale of a three-game series against the Indians at Progressive Field.
Ramirez, officially acquired in a waiver claim from the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this week, may have gotten into the heads of the Indians when he stepped onto the field during an A.J. Pierzynski at-bat in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s 4-3 win. The Chicago catcher, however, belted the go-ahead three-run homer before Ramirez could take his first swing in a White Sox uniform.
In 51 career games against the Indians, Ramirez is a .352 hitter with 46 RBI and 16 home runs. He made his major league debut with Cleveland in 1993.
Mark Teahen drove in a run Tuesday for the playoff-hopeful White Sox, who are four games behind Minnesota for the AL Central lead.
Pale Hose starter Edwin Jackson continued to succeed with Chicago, throwing his third consecutive 10-plus strikeout performance in 8 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk with 11 K’s last night.
“Edwin Jackson really is the story,” a modest Pierzynski said. “We wanted him to finish the game, we really needed that for our bullpen, which has been kind of abused (lately). He was amazing.”
The White Sox, who will also visit Boston and Detroit on their 10-game road trip, are expected to send veteran right-hander Freddy Garcia to the mound this afternoon. Garcia is 11-5 in 24 starts to go along with a respectable 4.89 ERA and defeated the New York Yankees his last time out on Friday, holding the Bronx Bombers to a pair of runs — one earned — in seven innings of a 9-4 drubbing.
Garcia is 5-2 in 12 road starts this season and 6-6 with a 4.13 ERA in 19 lifetime matchups (18 starts) against the Tribe.
Cleveland will wrap up a nine-game homestand Wednesday and has lost three in a row. Starter Justin Masterson had a strong outing go to waste in Tuesday’s setback, as he allowed just one run and four hits in 7 2/3 innings.
“You feel good that you helped give the team a chance, but it’s never exciting to come away with the defeat,” Masterson said. “But we fought hard.”
Joe Smith gave up two runs to suffer the loss for the Indians, who got a home run from Shelley Duncan and two RBI out of Jason Donald. The Indians are 3-5 on the residency and have lost eight of their last 11 contests overall.
Carlos Carrasco is slated to make his 2010 debut today for Cleveland and went 0-4 with an 8.87 ERA in five starts last year. Carrasco, who was 10-6 with a 3.65 ERA in 25 starts at Triple-A Columbus, has never faced Chicago.
The right-hander was acquired from Philadelphia last year as part of the Cliff Lee deal.
Cleveland is 8-6 against the AL Central-rival White Sox this season.