Verlander Fans 10 As Tigers Beat White Sox 6-3 In Opener [VIDEO]
By ANDREW SELIGMAN, AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) — Justin Verlander struck out 10 to match the most by a Detroit pitcher on opening day since Mickey Lolich in 1970, and the Tigers backed him with three home runs in a 6-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
JaCoby Jones hit his first career homer, Nick Castellanos and Ian Kinsler also went deep against Jose Quintana (0-1), and the Tigers sent Rick Renteria to a loss in his debut as White Sox manager.
A day after the teams were rained out, Jones' three-run homer and Castellanos' two-run drive in a five-run second lifted Detroit into a 5-1 lead. Kinsler added a solo shot in the fourth.
???? (x9)#MustSeeJV and the #Tigers lead the White sox, 6-2, after six innings. #WhosYourTiger pic.twitter.com/sMY6qN9nVU
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 4, 2017
High five if you're trending in the U.S. after your first career home run. pic.twitter.com/Huf8koBWWR
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 4, 2017
First home run of his Major League career? @JacobyJones23 won't forget this one. https://t.co/ULVn9M5An3
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 4, 2017
#Blastellanos sends one out!
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 4, 2017
He follows JaCoby's blast with his two-run shot to make it a 5-1 game in the second. #WhosYourTiger pic.twitter.com/G9alx8TJXo
Verlander (1-0), the AL Cy Young Award runner-up last season, gave up two runs and six hits while walking two in 6 1/3 innings.
Francisco Rodriguez relieved with two on in the ninth and retired three straight batters for the save. He gave up an RBI groundout to Jacob May before catcher James McCann leaned over the railing in front of the Tigers dugout to snag Tyler Saladino's foul for the final out.
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