CLEVELAND -- Jake Peavy got some early run support, and the White Sox right-hander was grateful.

"The team played outstanding tonight. They swung the bats,'' Peavy said after improving to 4-1 with the White Sox 8-1 victory against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night. "It's big when you get runs early. You come out being aggressive when you get those first two and then they put a lot on the board and you try to throw strikes.''

Adam Dunn launched a 425-foot, two-run homer in the first inning, and the Sox erupted for six more runs in the fourth to gain a split of their four-game series with the American League Central leaders. Dunn has 10 homers, one short of his 2011 total, and he has gone deep six times in his last 11 games.

Peavy pitched seven innings, allowing seven hits and one walk while striking out five. The Indians got their run in the seventh.

"I got a little stiff there after six [after sitting for an extended time] and had trouble getting back loose there for the seventh,'' Peavy said. "But yeah, pretty clean. Like you said, you have 30-something [starts] like that, it would be a perfect world.

"It's a good team over there, a very tough team against a right-handed starter. But [catcher] A.J. [Pierzynski] battled and the team played outstanding behind me.''

The American League Pitcher of the Month for April, Peavy lowered his ERA to 1.89 while collecting his first victory since April 23. He is three wins shy of his total for last season. For manager Robin Ventura, Peavy's performances are becoming routine.

"For me, this is what I'm seeing,'' Ventura said. "I've seen this before so again, he's been everything you can ask for.

"Guys came out swinging and Jake, it's the same for him. He's been impressive and there's not much more I can say about him because he's done everything. He's professional. He gives us a lot of energy every time he pitches. And a game like today the offense breaks through, gets guys on and get them early and consistently get those hits with guys on is something that's been building for a while.''

The Sox are off Thursday before opening a homestand against the Royals on Friday. The Tigers play at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday and Tuesday. Peavy will face the Tigers on Tuesday.

"Just good for us to come back and get these two wins after losing the doubleheader and getting back and pushing it toward .500,'' Peavy said. "You gotta beat the team in first place in your division. Good win and a good off-day and we gotta regroup and beat another division opponent Friday.''

Though it may not have been evident from the results, Peavy did it without his best stuff.

"I didn't have great stuff but I was able to pitch. I didn't have an easy start by any means but a start where you can be aggressive and throw a lot of strikes and not have to really work hard. It was nice. And having the extra day, I don't know. I promise you I'm worried about the start against Detroit on Tuesday night and I'll do everything I can do to get back at them.

"It's going to be a tough challenge being the third time I've faced that team. I gotta make a lot of good pitches and I'm looking forward to doing that.''

CLEVELAND -- Chris Sale will undergo an MRI on his left elbow in Chicago on Thursday, a precautionary move, the White Sox are saying, to make sure there is nothing wrong with their prized left-hander.

Sale pitched out of bullpen Tuesday night for the first time since he was moved from the starting rotation. He said Tuesday and Wednesday that he feels fine, and the Sox are insisting that he's not hurt.

"He's not hurt, it's more monitoring what's going on and seeing where it's at,'' manager Robin Ventura said before the Sox played the Indians on Wednesday night. "It's kind of precautionary stuff that happens all the time.''

Pitching coach Don Cooper reiterated Wednesday that Sale might return to the rotation at some point this season. Ventura said it's possible but that he'd be surprised if that happens.

"That's something we'll go over when we get back home,'' Ventura said. "I don't see it that way but again, this all happened pretty fast. Getting everybody in the room and expressing it face to face is probably the best thing to do. That's when you get the most information and make the right decision. We'll see when we get everybody in the room.''

Sale was down on himself after Tuesday's 5-3 Sox win against the Indians because he failed to hold a lead for starter John Danks in the eighth inning. He was in much better spirits Wednesday.

""I think this is something that is precautionary, that we all want to get the wrinkles out of this and find our 100 percent if there is or isn't [damage],'' he said. "Pitching last night, did some long toss today, I feel fine so I'm not really worried about it so it's one of those things I got to do, just to make sure."

CLEVELAND -- Chris Perez didn't have his way, and Alex Rios had his say.

With his actions, not words.

Rios, peeved by Perez's show of exuberance after closing out an Indians win at U.S. Cellular Field on Thursday when he retired Rios for the final out, roped a triple to right-center field against Perez in the 10th inning Tuesday night that helped the Sox to a 5-3 victory. Rios drove in the go-ahead run and scored on Alexei Ramirez's grounder to second baseman Jason Kipnis.

"It was just part of the game," Rios said when asked if there was a revenge factor. "I was just trying to hit the ball hard somewhere and it worked out pretty good."

Rios took exception to Perez after the Indians closer got the save on Thursday. Umpires stepped between them as the teams were walking off the field. Rios could have gone into third standing up, but he made a pop-up slide and clapped his hands one time.

Perez (0-1), asked if he was peeved about losing and surprised by his outing, shot back at a reporter who asked the question.

"That's a stupid question. This is baseball. I was never going to give up another run again? Come on.

"It's baseball. I gave up two hits. We lost, It stinks, especially after we battled back. What are you going to do?"

Perez gave up a leadoff single to Paul Konerko in the 10th. After A.J. Pierzynski popped out, Rios lined a ball over Kipnis that rolled to the right-center field wall, scoring pinch runner Brent Lillibridge.

"We didn't say any words today," Perez said. "I just made a bad pitch and he did what he's supposed to do -- hit it in the gap."

The Indians swept a doubleheader from the Sox on Monday, and after they came back from a 3-0 deficit on Tuesday, the Sox came away with a needed win.

"It's an important win to come back like that, tells us that we're fine,'' Rios said. "We lost those two games yesterday but to come back like this is a confidence boost.''

Sox manager Robin Ventura didn't downplay the significance of the Rios-Perez rift.

"Baseball has its way of doing that,'' Ventura said. "I'm sure you've had situations in baseball where you have that and your focus is a little better. It's a well-struck ball. Baseball players don't forget a lot of stuff."

DETROIT -- The White Sox will bring up left-hander Eric Stults from AAA Charlotte to pitch in the second game of Monday's day-night doubleheader in Cleveland.

In five starts at AAA Charlotte, the 32-year-old Stults was 1-1 with a 2.20 ERA with 26 strikeouts and 10 walks. He is 8-10 with a 4.93 ERA in parts of five major-league seasons with the Dodgers and Rockies.

Teams are allowed to expand rosters to 26 for doubleheaders. Dylan Axelrod, who starts in Sunday's game in Detroit, was originally penciled in to start against the AL Central-leading Indians on Monday (12:05 p.m) but was moved to Sunday to take the place of Chris Sale, who has been moved to the bullpen.

Asked before Sunday's game if Stults and Axelrod are in competition for a regular starter's role, Ventura said, "It's just one of those we'll see how it goes and make decisions based on how the next week shakes out. We're still going over stuff after we put Sale in the bullpen. I don't think anything is concrete."

Philip Humber, who hasn't been sharp in his last two starts following his perfect game in Seattle on April 21, will start the 6:05 p.m. game Monday.

"I'm getting ahead in the count and instead of staying on top of the hitters, find self going from 0-1 and 1-2 to 3-2,'' Humber said Sunday. "When I'm right, I'm a guy who fills up the strike zone. When I get back to that I'll be right where I need to be. I feel great. My stuff is as good or better than last year.''

DETROIT -- The White Sox made a surprising and significant decision on Friday to move Chris Sale back to the bullpen. Sale, who has had a short but successful run as a starter this season after relieving last year, has been experiencing slight tenderness in his elbow area, manager Robin Ventura said.

Rather than risk his long-time health, the Sox decided to move Sale back to the bullpen, where he will assume the closer's role. Dylan Axelrod will move into the rotation and will start Sunday against the Tigers in Sale's place.

Ventura said Sale will be available to close on Monday when the Sox play two games in Cleveland.

"It's not disappointing to us, it's disappointing to him because this was something he's always wanted to do,'' pitching coach Don Cooper said before the Sox' game at Detroit Friday. "We're not making this decision based on what's best for the team because obviously he's starting and doing well and that would be a wonderful thing to keep him in. We feel we're doing what's best for him, his career and his health. It's the best way to keep him healthy and strong.''

Sale, 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA, has been the Sox' second-best starter behind AL Pitcher of the Month Jake Peavy. He pitched in the bullpen last year but his stated goal was always to start. His transition to the job had been smooth. He wasn't happy about the move, Cooper said, and he declined to talk to reporters before Friday's game, asking instead if he could talk Saturday.

"It's easier to maintain that and keeping tabs on this in the bullpen than it is as a starter,'' Cooper said. "We already know he's a good left-handed reliever. That's been proven over the past 1 ½ years. Now we'll be trying to make him one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball, not just in the American League. That's all we're at with it. Chris is going to be fine. He was upset. He wanted to continue to do this. But sometimes we have to make decisions based upon what we feel is best for that individual, and that's what we did."

Rookie left-hander Hector Santiago, who had four saves in six opportunities with a 7.36 ERA, moves to the middle of the bulllpen that is now stacked with four lefties -- Sale, Santiago, Matt Thornton and Will Ohman.

"When you think about it, we have four pretty good lefties out there,'' Cooper said. "So listen, this gives Hector a chance to pitch. And pitch and develop. Go out there and play, get more comfortable, get your major league legs underneath you. Think about it ... he went from Double-A to the majors as a closer. That's a big jump.

"He did a credible job except for two games. But he needs to go out there like we're sending [rookie right-hander] Nate Jones out there. And [rookie right-hander Addison] Reed out there, to go out and pitch and learn the craft to get more experience. And waiting around some times to pitch and not pitch doesn't serve him as well. This was a decision based solely - it had nothing to do with anyone else - other than Chris."

Axelrod was outsanding at AAA Charlotte and has allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings since getting called up.

"Heck, he's pitching Sunday, so certainly we got faith in him to go out there,'' Cooper said.