White Sox miss chance at first place

CHICAGO -- Ryan Garko and the Cleveland Indians kept the struggling Chicago White Sox in second place.

Garko homered twice, including a grand slam in a six-run fifth inning, and had five runs batted in to help the Indians send the White Sox to their fourth straight loss, 11-8, on Friday night.

Chicago missed a chance to move back into first in the AL Central when Minnesota lost at home to Kansas City, 8-1. The White Sox had just dropped three straight to the Twins in the Metrodome and were hoping to regroup at U.S. Cellular Field.

Instead, they remained half a game behind Minnesota after a shaky pitching effort that included six walks -- one with the bases loaded -- and a wild pitch that scored a run.

The White Sox have two games left against the Indians and possibly a makeup game Monday against Detroit, if needed.

Winless in six games on the White Sox’s home field before Friday, the Indians jumped on Chicago starter John Danks and reliever D.J. Carrasco for six runs in the fifth inning.