Verlander Leads Tigers Past White Sox 7-1
CHICAGO (AP) — Justin Verlander turned in one of his most effective outings this year and once again beat the White Sox, leading the Detroit Tigers past Chicago 7-1 Friday night.
The contending Tigers won for the fifth time in six games. Chicago has lost nine of 10.
Verlander (12-11) beat the White Sox for the 14th time in 18 decisions since June 10, 2009 — the most wins by any pitcher against a single team in that span.
The former AL MVP allowed one run and nine hits in seven innings. It was the first time this year that he allowed fewer than two runs in a game.
Verlander matched his season high with eight strikeouts and walked two.
J.D. Martinez had a double and two singles for Detroit. The Tigers got 13 hits, including five doubles.
Scott Carroll (5-9) took the loss but didn't get much support in the field. The White Sox made four errors, contributing to four unearned runs.
First baseman Jose Abreu had three hits for Chicago, but his two errors helped the Tigers score five times in the fourth for a 7-1 lead. He left the game after the seventh because of an apparent hamstring injury.
Victor Martinez hit a grounder that handcuffed Abreu for an error, and J.D. Martinez and Alex Avila had RBI doubles. Eugenio Suarez followed with a single before Ezequiel Carrera's high bouncer glanced off the tip of Abreu's glove for a run-scoring miscue.
Verlander made a wild pickoff throw in the first that set up a sacrifice fly by Adam Dunn. The White Sox loaded the bases, but Verlander struck out Tyler Flowers on a 95 mph fastball and seemed to get stronger as the game progressed.
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