Cody Allen has only blown two save opportunities in the last two months. The Chicago White Sox are responsible for both of them.
Adam Eaton belted a grand slam off Allen with one out in the ninth inning, leading Chicago to a 10-7 win over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night.
Cleveland remained atop the American League Central Division by six games over Detroit, but had its seven-game winning streak over the White Sox end with a thud.
"I didn't actually think that was a bad pitch to Eaton, he just put a good swing on it," said Allen, who allowed five runs in 1/3 of an inning.
"That's baseball. It's one game. Obviously, it was a tough one, but it's one ballgame. We'll show up tomorrow ready to play."
Allen (2-5) is 23 of 26 in save chances this season, but just 2 of 4 against Chicago. His last blown save occurred on June 17 against the White Sox.
The Indians took a 7-5 lead on Brandon Guyer's two-run single in the fifth, which they held until the final frame. Allen struck out leadoff hitter Justin Morneau before loading the bases on infield singles by Todd Frazier and J.B. Shuck, and a walk by Tim Anderson.
Dioner Navarro's bases-loaded single scored Todd Frazier to pull Chicago within 7-6. Springfield, Ohio native Eaton followed with his first career grand slam.
"It was really a boxing match from the beginning tonight," Eaton said. "A long game and an intriguing game. Fortunately, we threw the last punch."
Andrew Miller, who had nine saves with the Yankees before being traded to Cleveland on July 31, was unavailable. The first-time All-Star pitched two perfect innings Tuesday in a 3-1 win to open the series.
Lonnie Chisenhall went 3 for 5 with a homer and three RBIs, Guyer had three hits, and Carlos Santana swatted his 26th home run for the Indians.
Cleveland designated hitter Mike Napoli went 0 for 3, ending his career-long hitting streak at 16 games.
"That was great, that was a lot of fun," Anderson said. "To be in that type of game against a first-place team and come out on top, it's special."
The Indians twice sent the potential game-tying run to the plate in the ninth against White Sox closer David Robertson. With two on and one out, Rajai Davis struck out and Guyer grounded out to end the game.
White Sox reliever Jacob Turner (1-1) earned the win by pitching a scoreless eighth.
COOKIE CUTTER
Indians RHP Carlos Carrasco went 6 2/3 innings and struck out 11. He allowed five runs, four of them earned, without issuing a walk. "I thought that's the best stuff we've seen from Cookie," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "I thought he made some pitches in poor locations and paid the price for it, but I thought his stuff was very good."
