Byrd gets first win, Indians record first shutout of season

Indians 4, White Sox 0

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Paul Byrd is warming up to pitching in cold weather.

The right-hander worked six sharp innings in his first official start of the season and the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 4-0 Saturday.

"I usually don't pitch well in the cold, but I've gotten better used to it," Byrd said after performing in 40-degree temperatures and brisk winds. "After last week, it felt like 60 degrees out there to me."

Byrd (1-0) had come within one strike of an abbreviated no-hitter on April 6. That was Cleveland's scheduled home opener -- which was snowed out with two outs in the top of the fifth and the Indians leading the Seattle Mariners 4-0.

"I was very angry," Byrd said, adding that he got a little riled again Saturday when umpire Larry Poncino casually asked him about the experience. "I found myself in the middle of this game talking about that one.

"I'm excited to pitch in one that counted. I told my wife this morning that I felt like the school bus had left and I missed it."

Ironically, Byrd's first pitch to the White Sox was a called strike -- exactly what he needed eight days earlier to make it an official game in a swirling snow at Jacobs Field.

Ryan Garko and Josh Barfield connected for their first homers in the second inning off Chicago rookie John Danks (0-2) for a 2-0 lead.

"I had Garko 0-2. When I give up an 0-2 homer, it bothers me," Danks said. "I hung a curveball to Barfield and he showed what a big league hitter will do with an 0-1 curveball."

Garko, who had a career-high four hits Friday night in a 6-4 loss to Chicago, opened the inning with a drive to left-center. Two outs later, Barfield hit his first homer in the AL. The second baseman was acquired in a trade from San Diego in November.

"It felt great to help my new team," said Barfield, who entered the game hitting .138 (4-for-29).

Byrd allowed five hits, struck out five and issued his only two walks with one out in the fifth. The 36-year-old got the next two batters on grounders, then was at his gritty best in the sixth when the White Sox put runners on first and third with none out but failed to score.

"I worked on a split-finger pitch in spring training and I got all my strikeouts against right-handers and some big outs against lefties with it today," Byrd said.

Jim Thome got credit for a double when his popup down the left-field line fell safely against the Indians' defense, which was shifted toward right field against the left-handed slugger. Third baseman Andy Marte, playing nearly at the regular shortstop position, overran the popup, then reached back over his shoulder and missed it.

Thome went to third on a single up the middle by Paul Konerko.

Byrd struck out Jermaine Dye, got Joe Crede to foul out to first and retired A.J. Pierzynski on a popup down the left-field line.

"I struck out Dye on a split," Byrd said. "He was shaking his head on the way to the dugout, trying to figure it out."

Danks allowed seven hits over 5 1-3 innings in his first career road start. The 21-year-old, acquired in a trade from Texas in December, walked one and struck out four.

"It was another great outing for the kid," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "The two times he's pitched, we haven't supported him at all. The thing I love about him is he gave up the home runs, but came back the next inning and continued to pitch."

The White Sox have not scored during Danks' 11 1-3 innings on the mound this season.

Kelly Shoppach walked and scored on Jason Michaels' two-out triple in the seventh against reliever Nick Masset. Michaels scored when Travis Hafner reached on an error by second baseman Tadahito Iguchi.

Joe Borowski retired Darin Erstad on a foul popup with runners on second and third in the ninth for his fourth save in four chances.

Game notes
White Sox C-1B Toby Hall, sidelined since dislocating his right shoulder March 25, reported no pain one day after playing catch at distances up to 60 feet. ... Garko had two of Cleveland's eight hits and is batting .471 (8-for-17) in his last five games. ... Pierzynski has two hits in his last 23 at-bats (.087).