CLEVELAND _ Corey Kluber entered this season with an outstanding track record against the Chicago White Sox. Wednesday's outing, however, didn't follow that same script.
Kluber struggled to find his command and a long day for the Indians ensued in a 8-3 loss to the White Sox at Progressive Field.
He consistently found the middle of the plate and repeatedly paid for it as the White Sox (2-3) knocked him around to take a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Kluber (0-2) was tagged for six runs _ four earned _ on eight hits and three walks to go with four strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. It was a rough enough day that the Indians (2-3) had reliever Tyler Olson warming up in the first inning.
"You know, it just seemed like ... first pitch of the game is hit for a base hit and he's pitching out of the stretch. He never found a comfort zone," Indians manager Terry Francona said of Kluber. "He scattered a lot of his fastballs, put him in some tough counts.
Previously, Kluber had dominated the White Sox, going 9-0 with a 1.81 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 74 2/3 innings against them over the last three seasons.
"I don't think it was much out of the usual the way teams attack me. I think I just didn't do a good job of making good pitches," Kluber said. "I guess I didn't make enough good pitches, too many balls either over the plate or kind of non-competitive where they just kind of spit on them. There was not enough good pitches."
In that first inning, former Indians first baseman Yonder Alonso singled home a run, Daniel Palka drew a walk with the bases loaded and Jose Rondon grounded into a forceout to make it 3-0.
Jose Abreu added an RBI single in the second inning and then doubled home two more in the fourth, ending Kluber's day.
Yoan Moncada crushed a two-run home run an estimated 438 feet to right field off reliever Neil Ramirez in the eighth inning, pushing the White Sox's lead to 8-1.
It was another rough day for Indians hitters, who totaled only two hits and one run in six innings against starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (1-1), who struck out nine and walked one.
Hanley Ramirez lined his second home run of the season, a two-run shot to center field, in the ninth for the Indians' final runs.
