The Indians split a day-night doubleheader with the White Sox at Progressive Field on Tuesday, winning the opener 4-3 before falling 5-4 in the second game.

Travis Hafner, Asdrubal Cabrera and Kosuke Fukudome hit home runs to score all the runs in the first game.

The Indians led 4-0 after four innings in the nightcap, with the Sox scoring five unanswered to win.

CLEVELAND — Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera left the field prior to the start of the ninth inning of the first game of a doubleheader Monday for what could be the final time this season.

Cabrera sustained a mid-back strain on a swing during the eighth inning of the Indians’ 4-3 victory over the White Sox and is listed as day-to-day.

Manager Manny Acta was asked if Cabrera’s injury was season-ending.

“He’s getting checked out right now,” Acta said. “You can’t be diagnosing a guy as done for the season right now.”

Cabrera told reporters in the clubhouse after the game that he felt much better and hoped to be back in the lineup tonight, but with the Indians already out of contention, there is little reason to risk a more serious injury.

If Cabrera’s season is over, it’s been a good one.

The team’s lone All-Star is batting .274 with a career-high 24 home runs and a club-high 87 RBIs in 146 games. His long ball in the fourth inning Tuesday tied the franchise record for single-season homers by a shortstop (Jhonny Peralta 2005), and gave the native of Venezuela the most ever in a season by a shortstop from his country. Venezuelan Alex Gonzalez hit 23 homers twice, once with Florida in 2004 and again for Toronto and Atlanta last year.

“He’s traded power and RBIs for a couple points on his average,” Acta said. “He’s had a great season. I hope he’s OK and he can have another week so he can go for that record.”

Pronk’s progress

Offseason surgery is an option for Travis Hafner, who recently left the disabled list with a righty foot strain, but the designated hitter said he has been symptom-free since being activated.

“It feels fine, hitting, running, it feels real strong,” said Hafner, who hit one of the Indians’ three homers in the 4-3 Game 1 win. “I don’t see it being an issue.”

Hafner, who has been on the DL twice this year, said he feels as though it is the beginning of the season.

“I feel really good right now,” he said. “I just want to go up and hit the ball hard, and I feel like I’m going to do that.”

Coming up

The Indians recalled right-hander Corey Kluber from Triple-A Columbus.

It is Kluber’s second stint with Cleveland after making his major league debut Sept. 1 — no runs, two hits, two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings.

Kluber, who was acquired from the Padres in a three-team trade for Jake Westbrook last year, went 7-11 with a 5.56 ERA in 27 starts for the Clippers.

Birthday bomb

It was his mother’s birthday Monday, so naturally, Carlos Santana hit a home run.

Santana said he promises his mother he will hit a homer on her birthday every year and that he has come through on each of his last three opportunities. He was on the disabled list for her birthday last season.

“It was for my mom,” Santana said Monday after hitting a solo shot in the opening inning of Cleveland’s 12-6 loss to Seattle.

Minor details

Right-hander Mitch Talbot was replaced by righty Joe Martinez to start for Columbus in the Triple national title game against Omaha on Tuesday night.

Talbot, who is a member of the 40-man roster, is not injured, but the Indians are concerned they might need pitching depth over the remainder of the regular season.

Talbot began the season in Cleveland’s rotation, going 2-6 with a 6.33 ERA in 11 starts before being demoted.

Roundin’ third

Grady Sizemore entered Tuesday batting just .133 (4-for-30) since being activated from the disabled list on Sept. 5. … The Indians entered Tuesday having allowed six grand slams, which ranked second in the majors. After allowing just one granny in its first 139 games, Cleveland surrendered five over its last 12 through Monday. … Tonight, 7:05, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM. Jimenez (10-11, 4.49) vs. Buehrle (11-9, 3.74).

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

The Indians won the first game of a doubleheader against the White Sox at Progressive Field on Monday, turning back Chicago 4-3.

A trio of home runs — Travis Hafner, Asdrubal Cabrera and Kosuke Fukudome — provided all the offense for the Indians.

Fausto Carmona got his first win at home since April 28, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings.

CLEVELAND — Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall has located the light at the end of the tunnel.

Chisenhall, who has struggled for the majority of his debut season, is picking up the pace at the plate as of late, entering Monday batting .311 (14-for-45) with four home runs and 10 RBIs over his last 10 games.

“It takes some guys more time,” said manager Manny Acta of Cleveland’s first-round draft pick in 2008, who was batting .245 on the season with seven home runs and 18 RBIs in 58 games through Sunday. “He’s only 22 years old. Some people forget that he was at (Double-A) Akron last year.”

It has been a slow process for Chisenhall, who like many young left-handed hitters, has struggled against pitching from the same side — .220 (9-for-41). Acta predicts that will improve over time.

“I don’t foresee him struggling down the road against lefties,” Acta said. “We see him as a very good hitter down the road, period. He’s got a short, compact swing.”

Chisenhall has started hitting at an opportune time. The Indians envision him as their future third baseman, but need more offense than they got from the position this year.

Acta still thinks Chisenhall is the man for the job.

“He’s pretty confident in his ability, too, and that helps,” Acta said. “He’s got some learning and some adjustments to make, but it’s just a matter of time.”

Tomlin time

RHP Josh Tomlin (right elbow soreness) will pitch a simulated game today at Progressive Field, and according to Acta, could pitch in one of the games of a doubleheader against the Twins on Saturday.

Tomlin (12-7, 4.25 ERA) still leads the team in wins despite being sidelined since Aug. 26.

Back for more

As was expected, the Indians recalled RHP Zach McAllister from Triple-A Columbus to start the second game of a doubleheader today against the White Sox.

McAllister, 12-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 25 starts for the Clippers, will be making his third spot start of the season for Cleveland. He went 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA in the first two.

Acta was asked if McAllister was a candidate for the rotation next season.

“We need to see better than what we’ve seen,” he said.

Next up

The Indians continue the final homestand of the season with a four-game series against the White Sox that begins today with a day-night doubleheader.

Fausto Carmona (6-15, 5.26 ERA) pitches the first game of the doubleheader (1:05 p.m.) against RHP Gavin Floyd (12-11, 4.42), while McAllister (0-1, 12.27) starts Game 2 against RHP Dylan Axelrod (0-0, 2.25).

Ubaldo Jimenez (10-11, 4.49) starts for Cleveland on Wednesday (7:05 p.m.), Chicago countering with LHP Mark Buehrle (11-9, 3.74).

Jeanmar Gomez (4-2, 3.78) pitches the series finale Thursday (7:05 p.m.), while the White Sox counter with RHP Phil Humber (9-8, 3.59).

Minor details

• With its second straight International League title already secured, Columbus plays in the Triple-A national championship game tonight against Omaha in Albuquerque, N.M. Mitch Talbot (2-0, 1.69 ERA in two postseason outings) starts for the Clippers, who are the first of Cleveland’s top affiliates to win back-to-back IL titles since 1991-92.
• RHP Jason Rice cleared waivers and was outrighted to Columbus. Rice, whom the Indians originally claimed off waivers from Oakland, was designated for assignment when RHP Zach Putnam was promoted from Columbus and added to the 40-man roster.

Roundin’ third

• Carlos Santana and Shelley Duncan have been hot as of late. Santana entered Monday batting .333 (9-for-27) with four homers and eight RBIs over his last seven games. Duncan was batting .320 (16-for-50) with six homers and 14 RBIs in 15 September games through Sunday.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.