Division-leading Indians go for sweep of White Sox

Sep 12, 2007, 14:51 GMT

- The AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians will shoot for a three-game series sweep of the division-rival Chicago White Sox today with a matinee affair from Jacobs Field.

Cleveland is 6 1/2 games ahead of Detroit in the Central standings and posted its fourth straight win with an 8-3 victory over Chicago on Tuesday night. Travis Hafner had a pair of hits and drove in three runs, while Ryan Garko added two hits -- including a solo homer -- and drove in two runs for Cleveland, which has won 15 of its last 18 contests.

Paul Byrd started for the Tribe and earned the win, allowing three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. Byrd, who walked a batter and also fanned one, improved to 8-2 in 13 career starts against the White Sox.

Toeing the rubber for the Indians in Wednesday's series finale will be Jake Westbrook, who is 5-8 with a 4.30 ERA in 21 starts this season. Westbrook owns a 1-1 mark in his last four outings and did not factor in the outcome of a 3-2 loss at Anaheim on September 7. Westbrook allowed two runs in 7 2/3 innings against the Angels.

The veteran right-hander is 8-9 with a 5.02 earned run average over 24 career games (18 starts) against Chicago.

Meanwhile, the White Sox have dropped 15 of their last 20 games and gave manager Ozzie Guillen a four-year contract extension that will keep the skipper in the Windy City through the 2012 season.

Juan Uribe homered twice for Chicago last night and struggling rookie pitcher John Danks was reached for three runs on three hits over 2 2/3 frames -- his shortest outing of the season. Lance Broadway took the loss after he gave up a run and two hits over 2 2/3 innings of relief.

Javier Vazquez gets the call for the Pale Hose tonight and he is 11-8 with a 3.98 ERA in 28 starts this season. Vazquez is winless in his last three trips to the hill (0-2) and posted a no decision versus Minnesota on September 7. He permitted four runs and 11 hits in six innings of an 11-10 setback at U.S. Cellular Field.

The right-hander is 4-3 with a 4.10 ERA in 10 career starts against the Tribe.

Cleveland is 11-6 against the White Sox this season, with a 6-2 record in the Windy City. The Indians are 22-14 in the last 36 matchups against Chicago.

© 2007 The Sports Network