CLEVELAND – Carlos Carrasco was en route to replacing Many Ramirez’s first appearance with the White Sox as the big news coming out of Progressive Field on Wednesday afternoon.

Then Paul Konerko came to the plate in the eighth inning and changed the landscape.

With the Indians leading by a two runs after an impressive season debut from Carrasco, Konerko clouted a three-run home run off reliever Justin Germano to help send Cleveland to a 6-4 loss in the series finale.

The win completed the sweep for Chicago, which rallied late against Cleveland’s bullpen in all three games.

“It was a tough series,” said Indians manager Manny Acta, whose team lost for the fourth straight time and for the ninth time in 12 games. “I hope we learn from it. Our starting pitchers pitched really well for us and we lost it at the back end (of the bullpen).”

Promoted from Triple-A Columbus prior to the game, Carrasco looked like a seasoned veteran, allowing three runs on six hits, while striking out four over 7 1/3 innings.

The right-hander allowed just a run over the first seven innings – a solo homer from Alex Rios three batters into the game – before allowing another solo shot from Alexei Ramirez to lead off Chicago’s decisive four-run eighth inning.

“Carrasco was fantastic,” Acta said. “This is what we envisioned from this kid. He had three plus pitches. It was beautiful to watch. Too bad we couldn’t hold it for him at the end.”

Carrasco, 23, produced much better results than he did in five starts for the Indians last year – 0-4, 8.87 ERA – after being acquired in the Cliff Lee trade with the Phillies at last year’s trading deadline.

“I feel more comfortable,” said Carrasco, who received an ovation from the hometown crowd after walking Juan Pierre and being removed with one out in the eighth. “I worked on my mechanics at Columbus and I have more control of my pitches. It felt like I had been here for a long time.

“Today was a big game for me. I need to do more to impress people here for next year too.”

Germano had accomplished as much since arriving from Columbus, but the right-hander worked his worst outing of the season, walking the first batter he faced before serving up the long ball to Konerko.

“He’s been fantastic,” Acta said of Germano, who didn’t allow an earned run in his first 17 innings for the Indians after being called up from Triple-A, but has allowed three over his last two outings. “He’s been very reliable throwing strikes and he came in and walked the first guy.”

Konerko connected on a 1-1 change-up from Germano, sending it into the home run porch in left field.

“It’s always frustrating when you have an outing like that,” Germano said. “The bottom line is you have to come out of the bullpen and throw strikes. I got behind guys.”

The Indians could have turned to closer Chris Perez for a four-out save, something the right-hander has done on a number of occasions this year. But Acta decided against it.

“If we would have been fighting for a title, maybe,” Acta said. “But I can’t put this kid in jeopardy just for a win with the situation we’re in. We’re in no position to get the closer of the future hurt in a game in September.”

The Indians led 4-1 after scoring twice in four innings off Sox starter Freddy Garcia, who left the game with lower-back stiffness, and two more off reliever Tony Pena in the fifth.

It was a quiet day for Ramirez, who made his debut for the White Sox after being claimed off waivers from the Dodgers on Monday.

Ramirez received a smattering of boos from the sparse crowd during his first at-bat, going 1-for-3 with a bloop single in the seventh. Germano hit him with a pitch after surrendering the homer to Konerko and Ramirez was removed for a pinch runner.

Konerko’s homer was his 14^th at Jacobs/Progressive Field, tying Tampa Bay’s Carlos Pena for the second-most long balls by an opponent at the park. 

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

CLEVELAND – Reinforcements from Triple-A Columbus arrived Wednesday, with the Indians promoting starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco, reliever Jensen Lewis and first baseman/outfielder Jordan Brown on the first day major league rosters were allowed to expand to 40 players.

Carrasco, who made his season debut against the White Sox in the series finale, and Lewis were expected additions, but Brown was a bit of a surprise, since Indians manager Manny Acta said his club would try to avoid depleting Columbus’ roster, with the Clippers in contention for a playoff spot.

Brown’s addition was most likely made in the wake of the injury to first baseman Matt LaPorta (left hip strain), who did not start for the third straight game.

Acta was confident that LaPorta would return to the lineup for the final game of the homestand. LaPorta took batting and fielding practice prior to Tuesday’s game and delivered a pinch-hit single in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss to the White Sox.

“LaPorta felt it again when he swung on that pinch hit,” Acta said. “He’s not ready to play in the field.”

Brown, who is in his second stint with the Indians, started at first base Wednesday, going 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the fourth inning. He is batting .229 with four doubles and two RBIs in 10 games for Cleveland, while hitting .298 with eight home runs and 67 RBIs in 83 games for Columbus.

Lewis, who started the year in the Indians’ bullpen, has been back and forth all season between Columbus and Cleveland. This is his fifth stint with the Indians (3-2, 4.05 ERA in 26 appearances). The right-hander allowed a run on one hit and a walk in the ninth inning Wednesday.   

Progress report

Indians Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller updated members of the media on his condition, following a visit to the doctor Monday. Feller disclosed last week that he has been diagnosed with leukemia.

“I don’t need any more blood right now. The white cells are holding their own,” Feller said. “So far, so good. I feel good.”

Feller said he would continue outpatient treatments at the Cleveland Clinic through mid-September before receiving another update on his condition.  

Next up

The Indians kick off a seven-game road trip with a four-game series at Seattle, which begins tonight at 10:10.

Josh Tomlin (2-3, 4.08 ERA) opens the set, opposing RHP Doug Fister (4-10, 3.73), while Fausto Carmona (11-13, 4.19) starts Friday (10:10 p.m.) against LHP Luke French (3-4, 4.13).

Mitch Talbot (8-11, 4.61) will go for Cleveland on Saturday (10:10 p.m.) against RHP David Pauley (2-6, 4.25), while Justin Masterson (5-12, 5.04) pitches the series finale Sunday (4:10 p.m.), the Mariners countering with RHP Felix Hernandez (10-10, 2.38).

Minor details

Third baseman Jared Goedert hit his 20^th homer for Columbus in a 5-2 win over Indianapolis on Tuesday. Goedert entered Wednesday with a combined 27 homers and 80 RBIs in 119 games for the Clippers and Double-A Akron. … Second baseman Jason Kipnis continued his hot streak, going 2-for-6 in Akron’s 10-4 win over Trenton on Tuesday. Kipnis, a second-round draft pick last year, entered Wednesday batting .348 (62-for-178) with 13 doubles, five triples, five homers, 29 RBIs and 40 runs over his last 45 games. Entering Wednesday, Kipnis was hitting .322 with 40 RBIs and 61 runs in 73 games since being promoted from advanced Class A Kinston.   

Roundin’ third

Indians rookie starters, Talbot, Tomlin, Carrasco and Jeanmar Gomez are a combined 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA in their season debuts this year. … Masterson pitched at least five innings Tuesday for the 18^th consecutive start, accounting for the longest such streak by an Indians’ pitcher since Kevin Millwood’s 20-game streak in 2005. Masterson went 2-2 with a 3.28 ERA in six August starts and is 3-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 12 starts at home. … Tonight, 10:10, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

Paul Konerko hit a three-run home run off Justin Germano in the eighth inning to lift the White Sox past the Indians, 6-4, Wednesday afternoon at Progressive Field.

The win completed a three-game sweep of Cleveland, which has lost ninth time in 12 games.

The loss ruined an impressive season debut for Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who allowewd three runs runs over 7 1/3 innings.

CLEVELAND – Manny Ramirez was on deck to pinch hit for the White Sox in the ninth inning of a tied game at Progressive Field on Tuesday night.

Turns out the Sox didn’t need their newly acquired slugger after all.

With runners on first and second and one out in the ninth, Chicago’s antagonistic catcher A.J. Pierzynski blasted a three-run home run off Indians reliever Frank Herrmann to lift the White Sox to a 4-3 victory.

After watching Pierzynski’s homer sail into the seats in right field, Ramirez returned to the dugout to celebrate with his new teammates and did not make an appearance against his former team.

For the second straight night, the Indians rallied in the ninth inning, only this time they couldn’t force extra innings, scoring twice before Michael Brantley bounced back to closer Bobby Jenks to end the game with two runners on base.

The no-quit attitude is what manager Manny Acta chose to focus on, rather than his club’s third straight loss and eighth in the last 11 games.

“I’m extremely proud of these guys,” Acta said. “We’re facing a team that was in first place and is battling for the division. These kids continue to put up a fight.”

The Indians have considered moving Justin Masterson back to the bullpen at various points in the season, but the right-hander stated a strong case to remain in the rotation with a sparkling start against the Sox.

Masterson allowed just a run on four hits and two walks, while striking out seven over 7 2/3 innings.

“It was an outstanding effort from Masterson,” Acta said. “When he stays consistent with his delivery, he can be really tough. Nights like tonight keep a lot of people thinking that he can be a starting pitcher on this level. He hasn’t had a very good year, but he’s had a couple of those (top-shelf starts).”

Masterson shut the Sox out on three hits over the first seven innings before walking the leadoff batter in the eighth – Mark Kotsay, who was replaced by pinch runner Brent Lillibridge, with Lillibridge scoring the game-tying run on a bloop single from Mark Teahen.

Masterson picked an inopportune time to surrender his only run, with the Indians taking a short-lived 1-0 lead on Shelley Duncan’s solo shot off Sox starter Edwin Jackson in the seventh.

“I had some good consistency,” Masterson said. “Balls were going at guys and I was working the zone. You feel good that we kept the team in line for a victory, but it’s never exciting to come away with a defeat.

“I like where we’re at. I like the idea that a few good outings have been put together.”

Another weak effort from the Indians’ offense left Masterson without a decision.

Cleveland managed just a run on four hits through eight innings against Sox starter Edwin Jackson, but there were opportunities for more.

The Indians put the leadoff batter on second in both the second and third innings and failed to score a single run.

Walks plagued Cleveland the whole night.

Masterson’s leadoff walk in the eighth came back to bite him, and two walks in the ninth led to Chicago’s winning runs.

Joe Smith started the ninth by walking two of the three batters he faced before being replaced by Herrmann.

With Ramirez looming on deck, Herrmann got a strike on Pierzynski before his ill-fated offering put the game on ice.

“I was ahead 0-1 and I was trying to throw a slider down,” Herrmann said. “I just made a bad pitch, left it up and he made me pay for it. If I make a good pitch there, there’s nothing to talk about. It’s on me.”

With Jackson on the mound going for the complete-game win, the Indians got consecutive one-out base hits from Jayson Nix and pinch hitter Trevor Crowe before Jason Donald’s two-run single chased Chicago’s right-hander.

Closer Bobby Jenks, who surrendered the game-tying runs in the ninth inning Monday night, nixed the comeback notion this time around by retiring Brantley with Donald on second.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.