Eldred Stymies Indians

Cal Eldred’s first shutout in three years could not have come at a better time for the Chicago White Sox.

After losing two in a row to the Cleveland Indians following an eight-game winning streak, the White Sox needed a lift and it came from the pitcher who has resurrected his career after a trade from Milwaukee.

Eldred gave up seven hits Thursday night and won his seventh consecutive game, blanking the Indians, 6-0, as the White Sox earned a split in the four-game series and went back up 7 1/2 games in the AL Central.

“I’m a healthy pitcher now,” said Eldred, who five years ago had “Tommy John” elbow ligament replacement surgery. “The last couple of years when I was healthy I did OK in Milwaukee. When I wasn’t, I didn’t give them what they wanted. That’s why I’m here.”

The White Sox are glad he is.

Just when it appeared the Indians might be taking back some momentum, Eldred stepped up with a two-walk, six-strikeout performance that had him throwing in the mid 90s in the final innings.

“It was big for them to beat us two in a row. We had had beaten them at their place [three straight last week] and they came back and started beating us,” Eldred said.

“This is important, but we have to look at the calendar and realize it’s June. We have a lot of baseball to play.”

Eldred (9-2), who hasn’t lost in eight starts since May 10, defeated the Indians for the third time this season. The shutout was the fourth of his career and first since beating the White Sox for Milwaukee on May 30, 1997.

“Eldred just kept getting better and better and didn’t give us a chance to get back into it,” Indian starter Chuck Finley said.

“He just pitched great,” Cleveland’s Jim Thome said. “You’re not going to win many games when you get that done to you.”

Ray Durham led off the first with his 12th homer, and the White Sox made it 3-0 in the second off Finley (5-5) on a run-scoring wild pitch and Durham’s RBI single.

Perry doubled with two outs in the scored on Brook Fordyce’s single. Scott Kamieniecki threw a run-scoring wild pitch in the seventh and Magglio Ordonez singled home a run in the eighth.

Finley (5-5) gave up four runs, eight hits and five walks in five innings.

Toronto 7, Detroit 4--David Wells became baseball’s first 12-game winner and Tony Batista homered twice as the Blue Jays defeated the Tigers at Toronto.

Wells (12-2) has won five consecutive decisions. The 37-year-old left-hander allowed two runs--one earned--on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

Batista, acquired from Arizona last season, has 44 home runs and 133 RBIs in 163 games with the Blue Jays. He hit a solo shot in the fourth and a two-run homer in the eighth to raise his total to 18 this season.

Shannon Stewart also homered for the Blue Jays, who have homered in a club-record 20 straight games.

Boston 4, New York 2--Nomar Garciaparra had a pair of doubles to raise his major league-leading batting average to .396, and Ramon Martinez pitched 6 2/3 strong innings to lead the Red Sox over the Yankees at Boston.

After losing the first two games of the series by a combined score of 25-1, the Red Sox won the final two to retake the AL East lead, half a game ahead of the Yankees and Toronto.

Bernie Williams homered for the third consecutive game for New York.

Martinez (6-4) rebounded from one of his worst starts of the season to hold New York to two runs on four hits, striking out a season-high seven batters.

Minnesota 3, Texas 2--Butch Huskey scored from second as a teammate was caught in a rundown in the ninth inning, lifting the Twins over the Rangers at Arlington, Texas.

Huskey doubled off Tim Crabtree (1-4) leading off the ninth before pinch-hitter Denny Hocking walked. Chad Moeller grounded to second base and Hocking avoided the tag of Frank Catalanotto, who threw to first to retire Moeller. Hocking was caught in a rundown on first baseman Rafael Palmeiro’s throw to second, but Huskey alertly rounded third and slid under the tag of Ivan Rodriguez to give Minnesota a 3-2 lead.

Seattle 11, Baltimore 4--Jay Buhner got Seattle started with a three-run homer in the second inning, and Jamie Moyer defeated the Orioles for the 10th consecutive time as the Mariners won at Seattle.

Edgar Martinez hit a grand slam in the eighth off Buddy Groom, giving him a major league-leading 77 RBIs. It was his 21st homer of the year, his second grand slam this season and sixth of his career.