Palka's 9th Inning Blast Sends Sox to 1-0 Win Over the Indians; Three Takeaways

The Indians six-game road trip didn't start as planned Friday night, as a leadoff homer from White Sox DH Daniel Palka was the difference, as the Sox topped the Tribe 1-0.

Neil Ramirez allowed the game-winning homer for the now 64-51 Indians, who lost to the Sox for just the third time in 2018 against eight victories.

The Indians offense managed just five hits on the night, and the setback wasted a solid outing from rookie Shane Beiber, who threw 6.2 innings of shutout ball.

The same two teams will be back at it on Saturday, but for now here is three takeaways from the Friday setback in Chi-Town.

1. Ugly Night of Offense

The Indians didn't do much at the plate on Friday, being held down by Sox starter Carlos Rondon, who held the Tribe to just three hits, walking two and striking out five.

Rondon has been pitching well as of late, but he's also a pitcher who you can get to walk a couple batters per night, so the two walks in eight innings was a disappointment for the Indians for sure.

The offense has had nights like this in the past, so it's not like it's not happened before, but after a solid week at home in which they won five of seven, having this showing the first night of a road trip is for sure a step in the wrong direction.

2. Bieber Does His Job

Tribe starter Shane Bieber got no help in the Friday night effort against the Sox, as he went 5.2 innings, allowing just three hits, two walks and eight K's in the very good effort.

He takes a no-decision, but it's not an easy no-decision to swallow based on how well he pitched in the setback. He did get his pitch count up, throwing 106 pitches, 74 strikes in the effort.

He did drop his ERA down to 4.10, and he's back on track with his second straight good outing after a couple rough ones before that, but it was all for nothing since the offense didn't do much of anything to help him out.

3. Negative Neil

Neil Ramirez is a pitcher having issues with the long ball like closer Cody Allen, who allowed a game-tying homer to the Twins before Francisco Lindor's heroics in Wednesday's game.

Ramirez gave up a solo shot to Daniel Palka to start the ninth inning, the third homer he's allowed in the last five times he's taken the mound.

It's the 8th homer overall that Ramriez has allowed this season, and right now he's not a relief pitcher you can trust with the game on the line.

With the revamped pen, you have to wonder if Terry Francona is going to stay more away from Ramirez as things progress as right now he's just not throwing well.

He's given up five runs in his last five appearances, and this is a pitcher who is usually brought in for one or possibly two innings at a time.