White Sox-Indians Preview

5/27/2008 11:49 PM

By KATE HEDLIN
STATS Writer

In their last game, the Cleveland Indians' offense and pitching staff combined for one of their most complete victories in nearly two weeks.

Hoping they have begun to turn things around, the Indians hope Jake Westbrook is equally effective Wednesday when they close a three-game series against the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox.

Cleveland (24-28) won for just the second time in its last 11 games with Tuesday's 8-2 win over Chicago (28-23). The eight runs scored by the Indians were their second-most in that span, and excluding their 13-9 loss Friday, they have averaged only 2.6 runs since May 16.

Franklin Gutierrez hit a first-inning grand slam, Aaron Laffey allowed one earned run over six innings and the Indians completed a rare triple steal in Tuesday's win. The loss was the third in five games for Chicago, which has been held to 12 runs in that stretch.

"It was crazy," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We really did a lot wrong. You can name it and name it. It's a good thing it was one game."

The Indians try for the series win behind Westbrook (1-2, 2.73 ERA), who has been on the disabled list since April 22 with a strained left rib cage muscle. In his last start on April 19 against Minnesota, the right-hander allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings of a 3-0 loss.

"I expect to get right back on track," Westbrook told the Indians' official Web site. "I want to pick up where I left off and do better."

He is 8-11 with a 4.92 ERA in 20 starts and six relief appearances against the White Sox. Westbrook has lost his last three starts against them, including one on April 3, when he allowed two runs in 7 1-3 innings of a 2-1 loss.

While Westbrook is coming off the disabled list, Travis Hafner is likely going on it. The designated hitter missed the first two games of this series because of a sore left shoulder and is expected to sit out Wednesday as well.

"We'll take a real good look at this on Friday," manager Eric Wedge said. "I don't think it's anything too serious, but if this drags on, obviously, we're going to have to consider (disabling him)."

Hafner has struggled all season, hitting .217 with four homers and 22 RBIs. He's hitting .143 (3-for-21) with two RBIs in the last seven games.

Gavin Floyd (4-3, 2.93) takes the mound Tuesday for Chicago after pitching a complete game against the Angels on Friday, throwing a three-hitter in a 3-1 loss.

Floyd has alternated wins and losses in his last five starts, but has allowed more than three runs only once during that stretch. In the right-hander's only start against the Indians, he allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 6-2 defeat last season.