Kluber rolls as Indians hold off White Sox

CHICAGO — Corey Kluber threw 7 1/3 strong innings on Wednesday in the Indians’ 4-3 victory against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. The 2014 American League Cy Young Award winner has struggled at times early this season, but he was near top form Wednesday as he struck out nine batters to help the Indians get their third win in four games against the White Sox.

“I thought he was outstanding,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “There’s been a couple hiccups, but I promise you, the day he pitches, we’re thrilled. He works too hard. He’s too much of a pro.”

Added White Sox manager Robin Ventura: “Yeah, he was good. We’ve seen him in the past have a lot of movement, take a little off. Curveball, all that stuff. But he’s extremely tough on lefties. He gets it in there. I think righties with the cutter, and change, he was two-seaming it as well. He had a lot of stuff going today.”

Despite trailing 4-1 entering the eighth, the White Sox jumped back in the game as soon as Kluber left. Jimmy Rollins singled against Kluber to lead off the frame before Kluber struck out Todd Frazier. Bryan Shaw, who came on in relief, allowed a two-run homer to Melky Cabrera, his third of the year, before Shaw settled down to get out of the inning. Kluber finished having surrendered two runs (one earned) on seven hits and a walk.

One day after beating White Sox ace Chris Sale, the Indians got to Jose Quintana just enough to win. Quintana, who entered Wednesday leading the AL in ERA, left after giving up three runs on five hits and a walk over six innings. He also recorded eight strikeouts.

The win was the Indians’ third straight and their eighth in 11 games. The White Sox lost for the 11th time in their past 15 games and moved to 1-6-1 in their past eight series. Chicago also fell one game behind Cleveland in the loss column, though the White Sox still have a half-game lead over the Indians in the AL Central.

“We knew these are the guys who are ahead of us right now,” Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis said. “We knew these are important even though it’s still early. You can say if we dropped them, it’s still early, but you know what? We won them, so we’re going to tell you that we enjoyed these.”

“It is what it is. We’re in a funk right now,” White Sox catcher Dioner Navarro said. “Early in the season, we went into a funk and then we came off of it, and now we’ve got to keep grinding. It’s a long season. There are going to be stretches where the offense is going to …

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