Back Home, White Sox Still Red Hot

Returning home from their most successful trip in years didn’t slow the streaking Chicago White Sox.

The White Sox won their eighth consecutive game, getting a home run from Herbert Perry and 6 2/3 scoreless innings from Kip Wells to defeat the Cleveland Indians, 6-1, Monday night.

The White Sox, who won three games in Cleveland and four at Yankee Stadium on a perfect seven-game trip, moved 8 1/2 games ahead of the Indians in the American League Central.

“Baseball is a momentum sport,” Perry said. “Right now, this team is in a giant vacuum and we’re just letting things go.”

The eight-game win streak is the longest for the White Sox since they won eight in a row May 17-26, 1996. It was the Indians’ seventh loss in their last eight games.

“Too many guys are putting pressure on themselves,” Cleveland’s Omar Vizquel said.

A crowd of 43,062, the fifth sellout of the season, gave the major league-leading White Sox (45-24) a standing ovation as they took the field to start the game.

“That was very moving,” White Sox Manager Jerry Manuel said. “It was a great moment for the team and for me to be received in such a way.”

Wells (4-5), whose pregame preparations included watching the movie “Slapshot” in the clubhouse, gave up four hits, including three doubles, and one walk. He struck out six in his best outing of the season and won for the first time since May 23.

“This was more important for me to win because it’s tough seeing everyone else succeed [on the pitching staff] and not do my part,” Wells said. “I know I have to pitch well to keep my job.”

Perry hit his fourth home run leading off a three-run fifth against Bartolo Colon (6-4) to spark the White Sox, who have won 14 of their last 15 games.

Two outs later, Jose Valentin singled and scored on Frank Thomas’ double which dropped in front of center fielder Kenny Lofton. Magglio Ordonez singled to drive in Thomas and make it 3-0.