White Sox Can’t Close Out Indians

A day after Bob Wickman couldn’t close out a game for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox closer Shingo Takatsu was just as bad.

Casey Blake, Coco Crisp and Ronnie Belliard hit ninth-inning homers, and the Indians rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the White Sox, 11-5, behind Victor Martinez’s go-ahead single in the 11th at Chicago.

“I think they feel the same way we did yesterday,” Belliard said.

Wickman gave up four runs in the ninth Wednesday as the White Sox rallied to win 4-3. Takatsu took over in the ninth with a 5-2 lead in this one.

“I’m sick to my stomach right now, but there’s nothing you can do about it,” Chicago Manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Chicago built a 5-0 lead by the fourth inning against starter Cliff Lee but was stymied by Rafael Betancourt, David Riske, Bob Howry, Arthur Rhodes (1-0) and Matt Miller, who combined for 7 2/3 innings of three-hit, shutout relief.

Chicago reliever Luis Vizcaino (0-1) gave up a two-run single to Martinez in the 11th that put Cleveland ahead 7-5. Aaron Boone had an RBI grounder, Blake hit a run-scoring single and Grady Sizemore followed with a two-run single.

“Our guys, they don’t let their guard down, they keep going,” Cleveland Manager Eric Wedge said. “It’s a tribute to them, not just to tie it, but to keep it going in extra innings too.”

Oakland 5, Baltimore 1 -- Eric Byrnes hit a three-run homer to break an eighth-inning tie, and the Athletics received a strong pitching performance from newcomer Danny Haren at Baltimore.

Mark Kotsay had two hits and scored a run for the A’s, who rebounded from an opening-day loss to take two of three from Baltimore.

Haren, who came to the A’s in the trade that sent Mark Mulder to St. Louis, gave up one run and three hits in six innings. The former Pepperdine and La Puente Bishop Amat High standout struck out six, walked three and hit a batter.

Detroit 7, Kansas City 3 -- Jason Johnson pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings, Ivan Rodriguez had four hits and Rondell White homered after Royal starter Zack Greinke was knocked out of the game by a line drive at Detroit.

Johnson, whose 7.97 spring training earned-run average cost him an opening-day start, gave up five hits, struck out four and walked one.