"Before the game, Tribe manager Manny Acta sat down on the dugout bench next to Kosuke Fukudome to hold his daily meeting with reporters. He put his arm around Fukudome and pulled him close.

"Do this interview with me," said Acta. "I'll answer the questions in Spanish, then you can translate them into Japanese."

Fukudome corrected his manager, saying, "No, I'll tell them to Hiro [Aoyama, Fukudome's interpreter], and he can say them in English."

Whatever the language, Fukudome is helping the Indians in their quest to win the American League Central. He had three hits Thursday night, including tripling home Shin-Soo Choo with the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, in the Indians' 4-2 victory over Chicago at U.S. Cellular Field.

Fukudome, acquired from the Cubs on July 27 for two minor-leaguers, went 5-for-8 combined Wednesday and Thursday to help the Indians take their first series from the White Sox this season. The victory moved them to 1 1/2 games behind the idle first-place Tigers.

It was the first time the Indians had won a series on the road since they took two out of three from the Reds in July. They are 3-7 against Chicago but have won seven of their past 11 games overall.

"After losing the first game in 14 innings, we came back with two well-pitched ball games to win a very important series for us," said Acta. "