Nick Swisher homered from both sides of the plate, hitting his second grand slam in four games and adding a solo shot Monday night to lead the surging Chicago White Sox past the Cleveland Indians 9-7. Jim Thome got the White Sox started with a three-run homer in the first as the AL-Central leaders won their fifth straight game and knocked the Indians 10 1/2 games back. Cleveland’s Jhonny Peralta went 5-for-5 with three doubles, his 12th homer and three RBIs. The Indians made it interesting by scoring three in the top of the ninth before Matt Thornton got Casey Blake to line out with a runner on to get his first save in three chances. The switch-hitting Swisher, who had a bases-loaded homer against the Cubs on Friday, connected from the right side against lefty Jeremy Sowers (0-4) to cap a five-run third inning. It was the major league-leading eighth grand slam given up by Cleveland’s pitching staff this season. In the sixth, Swisher went deep from the left side against Tom Mastny — the seventh time in Swisher’s career he’s homered from both sides, including twice this season. Thome’s three-run homer was his second in two games and the 523rd of his career. Of Thome’s 16 homers this season, six have come against the Indians, his former team. Gavin Floyd (9-4) allowed four runs and seven hits with a career-high 10 strikeouts over six innings. Down 8-1 at one point, Cleveland got within four with a pair of runs in the sixth as Peralt ...
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Nick Swisher homered from both sides of the plate, hitting his second grand slam in four games and adding a solo shot Monday night to lead the surging Chicago White Sox past the Cleveland Indians 9-7. Jim Thome got the White Sox started with a three-run homer in the first as the AL-Central leaders won their fifth straight game and knocked the Indians 10 1/2 games back. Cleveland’s Jhonny Peralta went 5-for-5 with three doubles, his 12th homer and three RBIs. The Indians made it interesting by scoring three in the top of the ninth before Matt Thornton got Casey Blake to line out with a runner on to get his first save in three chances. The switch-hitting Swisher, who had a bases-loaded homer against the Cubs on Friday, connected from the right side against lefty Jeremy Sowers (0-4) to cap a five-run third inning. It was the major league-leading eighth grand slam given up by Cleveland’s pitching staff this season. In the sixth, Swisher went deep from the left side against Tom Mastny — the seventh time in Swisher’s career he’s homered from both sides, including twice this season. Thome’s three-run homer was his second in two games and the 523rd of his career. Of Thome’s 16 homers this season, six have come against the Indians, his former team. Gavin Floyd (9-4) allowed four runs and seven hits with a career-high 10 strikeouts over six innings. Down 8-1 at one point, Cleveland got within four with a pair of runs in the sixth as Peralt ...