Cordero Homers in Comeback

The Cleveland Indians trumped Wil Cordero’s successful comeback with one of their own.

Cordero homered on the first pitch he saw in a White Sox uniform, but pinch-hitter Jeff Branson hit a two-run triple in the eighth inning as the Cleveland Indians defeated Chicago, 5-4, Thursday night.

Cordero, returning to the majors after pleading guilty to beating his wife, hit a 341-foot homer to left off Jaret Wright in the second. It provided a jolt for the White Sox as they sought a second victory in three games against AL Central-leading Cleveland.

But Branson ruined it. Batting for Shawon Dunston with runners on first and third in the eighth, he drove in his first runs of the season with a liner off the right-field wall on a full-count pitch from Bill Simas.

Batting sixth and playing first base in his debut, Cordero was met with a smattering of boos. It was nothing close to the treatment received by former Indian slugger Albert Belle, who had an RBI double and made a run-saving catch in left field.

“Even though you heard jeers, I think they were respectful,” White Sox Manager Jerry Manuel said. “I mean, it wasn’t as if he was Albert.”

Cordero was given a 90-day suspended sentence after pleading guilty to beating and threatening his wife, Ana, who has since given birth to their child. Released by Boston, he signed a $1-million, one-year contract with the White Sox on March 23.

“The guys received him well,” Manuel said. “I think they embraced the player and the man.”

He was one for four and dropped a popup on the pitcher’s mound for an error on his first chance in the bottom of the second inning. Manuel said the 26-year-old will play first and bat sixth every day.

“I was excited, yeah, but not nervous,” Cordero said. “When I’m on the field, I concentrate on the pitcher. Whatever they want to say, it doesn’t bother me.”