Pelfrey Outpitches Chris Sale In Tigers' 7-4 Win
DAVE HOGG
Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — J.D. Martinez homered and drove in three runs, Mike Pelfrey ended an 18-start winless string and the Detroit Tigers beat Chris Sale and the Chicago White Sox 7-4 Saturday.
During the game, the White Sox announced they had acquired former All-Star pitcher James Shields and cash from San Diego for two players.
White Sox left fielder Jason Coats, making his major league debut, exited in the seventh inning after colliding with center fielder J.B. Shuck. Coats was bleeding from a cut in his mouth, was tested for a concussion and was listed as day to day.
Martinez hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth that helped Pelfrey post his first win since last Aug. 12. He allowed two runs on five hits and three walks in six innings, striking out three.
After Mark Lowe allowed two runs in the ninth, Francisco Rodriguez got the final out for his 14th save.
Sale (9-2) failed again to become the first 10-game winner in the majors. He allowed four runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings, and is now 0-2 in his last three starts.
Victor Martinez went 2 for 2 with a walk against Sale, and is now hitting .500 (18-36) against the Chicago ace in his career.
For Detroit's annual Negro League Tribute game, the Tigers wore Detroit Stars jerseys while the White Sox were dressed as the Chicago American Giants.
Coats was called up from Triple-A Charlotte earlier in the day. He was hurt catching Miguel Cabrera's line drive into the gap.
Coats held onto the ball and was able to get up and make a throw, but then fell back to the ground. He walked off on his own power.
The White Sox started the game with three hits to take a 1-0 lead, but Todd Frazier rounded first too far on his RBI single and was thrown out.
Pelfrey was able to escape the inning, and Detroit loaded the bases in the bottom half on two singles and a walk.
Martinez lined a sacrifice fly to left, tying the game, but Nick Castellanos popped out.
Adam Eaton led off the third with a triple and scored his second run of the game on Tyler Saladino's groundout.
Light rain began to fall during the third, but the game continued without interruption as Pelfrey and Sale matched scoreless innings.
Just as the precipitation began to get heavier, J.D. Martinez lined a two-run homer over the White Sox bullpen to give Detroit a 3-2 lead in the sixth. Cameron Maybin added an RBI single in the seventh, and Detroit scored three more in the eighth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: Cabrera was back in the lineup after leaving Friday's game in the eighth inning with back stiffness. . Tigers manager Brad Ausmus confirmed that RHP Shane Greene, activated from the disabled list before the game, will pitch out of the bullpen to try to protect him from future blisters.
ALI TRIBUTE
The Tigers held a moment of silence before the game for Muhammad Ali, who spent much of his later life living in southwest Michigan. Fittingly, the honor came during the Negro Leagues Tribute Weekend, another celebration of African-American athletes who fought segregation.
Before the moment of silence, the crowd gave a standing ovation during the reading of a long Ali quote about life.
UP NEXT
The teams finish their three-game series Sunday afternoon with Jose Quintana (5-5, 2.13) facing Justin Verlander (4-5, 4.11). Quintana is 7-5 with a 1.92 ERA in his last 16 starts, dating back to last August.
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