CLEVELAND — Mark Buehrle's ejection in the third inning for arguing a balk didn't rattle the Chicago White Sox, who regrouped after losing their starting pitcher and survived a scary ninth inning to beat the Cleveland Indians 5-4 on Wednesday.
Buehrle and manager Ozzie Guillen were both tossed by first-base umpire Joe West, who called two balks on the left-hander in the first three innings.
Mark Kotsay hit a two-run homer off Jake Westbrook (2-3) and Mark Teahen drove in two runs as Chicago won two of three over Cleveland to capture their first road series this season.
Bobby Jenks nearly blew a 5-1 lead in the ninth, allowing the Indians to score three runs before striking out Austin Kearns with the bases loaded and getting Russell Branyan to fly out.
White Sox reliever Tony Pena (1-1), summoned in the fourth after Randy Williams left with an apparent foot injury, worked four scoreless innings and was credited with the win.
The last-place Indians made a season-high four errors, and finished 4-11 at home in May.
Buehrle didn't make it out of the third, which was one inning longer than his manager lasted. Both were thrown out by West, who apparently felt the lefty's pickoff move to first – regarded as one of the best in the game – was not within the rules.
Matt LaPorta was on first in the second inning when West called the first balk on Buehrle, who wasn't happy with the decision and had words with West before Guillen came out to defend his pitcher. West gave him a minute to plead his case and then threw out the fiery Guillen, who dropped his sunglasses, lineup card and other items on the track before heading into the dugout.
In the third, Buehrle gave up an infield single to Jason Donald, and with Trevor Crowe up, he was called for a second balk. This time, Buehrle flipped his glove off and was immediately ejected by West, who stood with his arms folded near the first-base line.
Buehrle tried to get at the ump and had to be restrained by several teammates and bench coach Joey Cora. Buehrle was eventually replaced by Williams, who then took a line drive by Crowe off his left foot. Williams remained in the game but faced only four batters before being pulled in the fourth.
Westbrook got through Chicago's lineup once without any trouble, but the White Sox scored three runs in the fourth, highlighted by Teahen's two-out, two-run single.
Juan Pierre led off with a double and Alex Rios walked with one out. Paul Konerko followed with an RBI single and took second on left fielder Kearns' throwing error trying to get Rios at third. The Indians intentionally walked Kotsay to load the bases and Westbrook struck out Carlos Quentin for the second out.
Teahen, who had three RBIs in Chicago's win in the series opener, came through with his single to score Rios and Konerko.
The Indians got a run back in the fourth on Jhonny Peralta's sacrifice fly, but Rios singled to open the sixth and, one out later, Kotsay hit his fifth homer into the seats in right-center.
Notes
Buehrle is the first Chicago pitcher to have two balks in a game since Scott Radinsky in 1993. Radinsky is currently Cleveland's bullpen coach. … The Indians begin a 10-game trip Friday when they open a four-game series at Yankee Stadium. … 2B Luis Valbuena's squeeze bunt Tuesday night that scored Kearns was the first successful squeeze by the Indians since May 17, 2003, against Oakland.