Eric Wedge's final home game was like so many
others this season: empty seats, a young lineup and a loss.
Mark Buehrle pitched six shutout innings and Paul Konerko drove
in the only run as the Chicago White Sox beat Cleveland 1-0 to
split a season-ending doubleheader Wednesday night, ending Wedge's
seven-year managerial run at home with the Indians.
Wedge's firing - and the dismissal of his coaching staff - was
announced a few hours before the opener, won by the Indians 5-1.
Despite being let go with six games left, the dedicated Wedge
wanted to finish what has been one of the most disappointing
seasons in recent team history.
In the second game, Buehrle (13-10) outdueled Justin Masterson
(4-10) and sent Wedge off on a final road trip to Boston's Fenway
Park, where the Indians played for the AL title just two years ago,
with another tough loss to ponder.
It's been that way all year for a club that was expected to
contend in the AL Central but crashed instead.
Cleveland finished 35-46 at Progressive Field, the club's worst
mark at home since 1991 when the Indians lost a franchise-record
105 games and finished at the bottom of the East. The Indians also
drew 1,766,242 fans, their lowest total since 1992 when they were
at the old Municipal Stadium.
Buehrle allowed three hits - two in the first - and struck out
three in one of his best performances since his perfect game on
July 23.
Masterson was better. He struck out 12, the most by a Cleveland
right-hander since Bartolo Colon fanned 13 at Yankee Stadium on
Sept. 18, 2000. Masterson, who came over in a deadline deal with
Boston, gave up four hits in his first career complete game.
Chicago's Matt Thornton worked the ninth for his fourth save.
In the opener, Fausto Carmona (5-12) pitched seven strong
innings for Cleveland.
Buehrle had struggled since throwing the 18th perfect game in
history against Tampa Bay.
The Indians were fortunate to get a pair of two-out hits off
Buehrle in the first. After that, the left-hander dominated them.
With two down, Shin Soo-Choo singled and Jhonny Peralta doubled.
Matt LaPorta then grounded out on a ball that deflected off
Buehrle's glove to second baseman Brent Lillibridge, ending
Cleveland's only threat.
The White Sox weren't having much more success against
Masterson, who matched Buehrle pitch for pitch until Konerko
singled in a run in the sixth. DeWayne Wise led off with a double
over the head of center fielder Trevor Crowe. Masterson retired the
next two before Konerko bounced a hit through the middle.
Travis Hafner homered in the opener for Cleveland. The
designated hitter, whose injuries have contributed to Cleveland's
slide in the standings, was pleased he could hit one on the day
Wedge was released.
"Wedge and I came to town the same year," he said. "He has
taught me a lot about the game and life as well. It's been a tough
day."
NOTES: Buehrle is the only active pitcher to throw at least 200
innings in each of the past nine seasons. ... The last time the
Indians finished their home schedule with a doubleheader was in
1972 against Baltimore. ... Indians SS Asdrubal Cabrera left in the
fifth inning of the opener with tightness in his hamstring and did
not play in the second game.
