Levine: Gonzalez Flirts With History To Lead White Sox Over Tigers
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- His possible date with history ended after six innings for White Sox right-hander Miguel Gonzalez.
Sunday looked like his day to make the baseball record books. Gonzalez had retired 18 straight batters to start the game before an alleged error by Tim Anderson on an Andrew Romine liner took away the perfect game, leaving a no-hit bid still intact. The next Tigers hitter, Alex Avila, singled to break up the no-hitter.
All of that became a moot point when official scorer Bob Rosenberg decided to change the error on Anderson to a hit after the fact in the next inning.
Confused? No more than the rest of us.
Nonetheless, Gonzalez pitched an outstanding game, allowing three earned runs in 7 2/3 innings while striking out six and walking none in Chicago's 7-3 win at Guaranteed Rate Field. Gonzalez improved to 4-5 and helped the White Sox take three of four from the Tigers in the series.
The long ball support came in bunches for Gonzalez, as Melky Cabrera, Todd Frazier and Matt Davidson went yard.
Gonzalez had lost five straight games prior to Sunday.
"Strike one from the get go," Gonzalez said of the difference against the Tigers. "I got ahead right away. That is something you want to do against a team that is aggressive. It was fun to get out there again and get on track."
The five-game losing streak was the longest of Gonzalez's career. He recorded his fifth quality start of the season Sunday.
"All of my pitches seemed to be working," he said. "Strike one curveballs, I was able to throw early in the game. Split finger and cutter, all were working. It was fun."
Chicago (23-26) passed Detroit (23-27) for third place in the AL Central with its series win. The White Sox are 6-3 against the Tigers this season.
"I am very happy with the result," manager Rick Renteria said. "At the same time, I am not surprised by it. The reason is I think our guys come out every day looking to play good baseball. That is just their character and the way they are put together."
After he had retired 18 straight batters, Gonzalez noticed the other players starting to avoid him.
"It was getting quiet," Gonzalez said. "I was just trying to do my thing and make pitches. I just wanted them to make the plays. That is how it went."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.