Adam Eaton led off the third with a triple and scored his second run of the game on Tyler Saladino’s groundout.
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Avila was taken out of the game when the score got lopsided. “You can’t take the mindset that you are going to throw flawless pitches and end up with a disaster on your hands”. “I just got knocked on the chin, but all good”.
Tigers: Cabrera was back in the lineup after leaving Friday’s game in the eighth inning with back stiffness. With the infield drawn in, Jose Iglesias made a diving stop on a smash from Saldino, holding Rollins at third. James McCann then grabbed Eaton’s bunt and threw him out at first to end the inning.
I don’t see Quintana or Verlander getting much help offensively here, so I’ll stick with the under.
Later that inning, Detroit mounted a timely rally, with J.D. Martinez battling back from an 0-2 count to work a bases-loaded walk that snapped a 1-1 tie and fueled a four-run outburst.
What’s more, even the Sox’ top two starters, Cy Young candidate Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, who took an AL-best 2.13 ERA into his start Sunday, can’t win. “He could use a day off”, manager Brad Ausmus said.
Ace Chris Sale vented about his frustrations after Saturday’s loss, and Todd Frazier said they all share that feeling Sunday. The way we’ve been swinging against lefties, you don’t know what’s going to happen (entering the series), but you felt like it should eventually turn around. Ian Kinsler is riding a five-game hitting streak overall and has belted two homers versus Sale, who is 7-5 with a 3.02 ERA in 24 career games (14 starts) against Detroit.Pelfrey gave up three unearned runs over 5 2/3 innings in his last start against Oakland before suffering his fifth loss.
Shane Greene and Francisco Rodriguez finished, with Rodriguez picking up his 15th save.
The White Sox opened the scoring in the first inning when Jose Abreu hit a two out home run off Verlander into the center field bushes. In his 11 starts and 4-5 record this season, Verlander holds a 4.11 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP in 72.1 innings.
Former Detroit Tigers player Chet Lemon, left, is presented with a framed Tigers jersey by former Ti …
“I have a lot of confidence in all of my pitches right now, but I just missed my spot a couple times today, ” he said.
White Sox left fielder Jason Coats left his major league debut early Saturday after a nasty collision with teammate J.B. White Sox CF Austin Jackson remained out of the lineup with a turf toe injury that he suffered on Sunday. Ausmus put Maybin in the second hole, which is a ideal spot for him because he often gets on base so Miguel Cabrera can move him around and help him get back home.
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The Tigers used six relievers and the only one who didn’t pitch well was Mark Lowe in the middle game. After Verlander walked him in the third, he threw over to first, causing the slow-footed Avila to burst into laughter. Verlander walked one and struck out eight. The left-hander did deliver the best of those starts September 22 at Comerica Park, where he held the Tigers to one run through seven innings while again being victimized by a lack of offense.
