White Sox fall to Indians, finish 3-7 on homestand

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Adam Eaton can’t catch a two-run triple by Cleveland Indians’ Lonnie Chisenhall during the second inning Wednesday, May 25, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

The Kansas City Royals took two of three. The Cleveland Indians won three of four.

With each series loss, the White Sox are losing their grip on the American League Central lead.

The Indians, who split a doubleheader with the Sox on Monday before ambushing previously undefeated Chris Sale on Tuesday, pinned a 4-3 loss on Jose Quintana on Wednesday at U.S. Cellular Field. The defeat capped a 3-7 homestand and sent the Sox on a 10-game road trip with an empty feeling.

The Sox had saved their best (Sale and Quintana) for last, but even they couldn’t stop the Indians.

‘‘We had our big guys going, and it didn’t go well for us,’’ manager Robin Ventura said.

The loss left the Sox (27-21) with a half-game lead over the Indians (25-20), their smallest since April 24. The Royals (24-22) are two back heading into four games with the Sox at Kauffman Stadium beginning Thursday.

‘‘It is what it is,’’ catcher Dioner Navarro said. ‘‘We’re in a funk right now. Early in the season we went into a funk, and then we came out of it. Now we’ve got to keep grinding. It’s a long season.’’

It might be a long one if the Sox’ lackluster lineup doesn’t get an injection by way of a trade or call-up from Class AAA Charlotte. The Sox managed seven hits against 2014 AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber and scored their first run in the sixth only because Todd Frazier walked, stole second and came all the way around to score on catcher Yan Gomes’ airmailed throw and Rajai Davis’ misplay in the outfield.

A two-run home run by Melky Cabrera in the eighth against Brian Shaw made it close at the end, but the Sox were held to three runs or fewer for the 24th time in 48 games.

Lonnie Chisenhall drove in the Indians’ first two runs with a triple in the second that barely eluded right fielder Adam Eaton’s attempt at a diving catch, enabling Juan Uribe (fielder’s choice) and Gomes (hit by pitch) to score.

‘‘I need to make the play there,’’ Eaton said. ‘‘By the same token, it’s a tough play. I went with the best of my ability, and it wasn’t good enough.’’

Leading 3-1, the Indians tacked on a run in the eighth against Dan Jennings on Gomes’ hot grounder down the line that skipped under third baseman Todd Frazier’s glove and into the left-field corner for a triple that scored Mike Napoli from second.

It was a tough play, but it was one Frazier thought he should have made.

‘‘It was hit hard, [but I] have to find a way to knock it down,’’ said Frazier, whose defense has been excellent. ‘‘Sometimes you make the plays, sometimes you don’t.

‘‘We’re not putting up runs, that’s the bottom line. When your pitchers are busting their tail, we have to find a way to stop the burning and get some runs in.’’

‘‘We were getting opportunities in this homestand and not getting the easy ones,’’ Ventura said.

The Sox were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

‘‘It has been five, six, seven games — whatever — where we haven’t done it, myself included,’’ Eaton said. ‘‘The whole team, top to bottom, hasn’t picked it up. But it’s not for the lack of effort.’’

<em>Jose Quintana pitched six innings and allowed three runs. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)</em>

Jose Quintana pitched six innings and allowed three runs. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)


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