Baseball Guru
04-19-2002, 05:19 AM
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
April 19, 2002, 2:22 AM EDT
Kenny Lofton let his former teammates know that winning the AL Central won't be easy.
Lofton tormented Cleveland with his speed and power Thursday night, leading the Chicago White Sox past the Indians 7-1 to complete a three-game sweep.
The Indians, who came to Chicago riding a 10-game winning streak, were outscored 24-8 in the series. Chicago has won eight of nine with a healthy Lofton patrolling center and running the bases with abandon, just as he did in his peak with the Indians.
"Kenny's off to a nice start and after that the whole lineup complements each other," Cleveland's Jim Thome said. "We were impressed with their offense. They got momentum early the whole series. That's what this game is about."
Lofton, who spent nine years with the Indians, batted a career-low .261 last season. The White Sox signed him as a free agent just before spring training.
Lofton finished the three-game set 6-for-14 with six runs scored. He has a nine-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in all 15 of Chicago's games.
"I was playing against my old team for the first time, but after the first at-bat, it's just another game," Lofton said after going 2-for-4 with his first White Sox homer.
Todd Ritchie (1-1), acquired in the offseason from Pittsburgh, allowed six hits and one run in seven innings, for his first AL victory since he was a reliever with the Twins in 1997.
Paul Konerko hit a solo homer off Bartolo Colon (3-1) in the second and Lofton led off the third with a long drive over the fence in right.
"They just outplayed us. It's still too early to tell if they're better than us," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. The teams play four games at Jacobs Field next week.
AP Sports Writer
April 19, 2002, 2:22 AM EDT
Kenny Lofton let his former teammates know that winning the AL Central won't be easy.
Lofton tormented Cleveland with his speed and power Thursday night, leading the Chicago White Sox past the Indians 7-1 to complete a three-game sweep.
The Indians, who came to Chicago riding a 10-game winning streak, were outscored 24-8 in the series. Chicago has won eight of nine with a healthy Lofton patrolling center and running the bases with abandon, just as he did in his peak with the Indians.
"Kenny's off to a nice start and after that the whole lineup complements each other," Cleveland's Jim Thome said. "We were impressed with their offense. They got momentum early the whole series. That's what this game is about."
Lofton, who spent nine years with the Indians, batted a career-low .261 last season. The White Sox signed him as a free agent just before spring training.
Lofton finished the three-game set 6-for-14 with six runs scored. He has a nine-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in all 15 of Chicago's games.
"I was playing against my old team for the first time, but after the first at-bat, it's just another game," Lofton said after going 2-for-4 with his first White Sox homer.
Todd Ritchie (1-1), acquired in the offseason from Pittsburgh, allowed six hits and one run in seven innings, for his first AL victory since he was a reliever with the Twins in 1997.
Paul Konerko hit a solo homer off Bartolo Colon (3-1) in the second and Lofton led off the third with a long drive over the fence in right.
"They just outplayed us. It's still too early to tell if they're better than us," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. The teams play four games at Jacobs Field next week.