Homers By Cespedes, Martinez Lead Tigers Past White Sox
CHICAGO (AP) — Yoenis Cespedes and J.D. Martinez homered in the sixth inning to power the Detroit Tigers past the Chicago White Sox, 6-4, on Sunday.
The Tigers have won consecutive games after dropping eight straight, their longest skid since 2005.
Alfredo Simon (6-3) struck out seven and allowed four runs — one earned — in eight innings. Joakim Soria earned his 16th save in 18 chances.
Detroit finished with 10 hits after getting 18 on Saturday. The middle of the order — Cespedes, Tyler Collins and Martinez — combined for eight hits and six RBIs.
The Tigers rallied with three runs in the sixth on homers by Cespedes and Martinez, who had three RBIs.
Cespedes cut Detroit's deficit to 4-3 with a solo shot, his eighth. Two batters later, Martinez hit a two-run drive, his 10th.
Cespedes added an RBI single in the eighth.
Avisail Garcia hit a three-run homer for the last-place White Sox. Jeff Samardzija (4-4) allowed six runs and 10 hits in 7 1-3 innings. He has given up 15 runs in his last 12 1-3 innings.
Collins' RBI single put the Tigers ahead in the first. Samardzija leads the majors with 17 runs allowed in the first inning.
Garcia connected in the bottom half. He has homered in two of the last three games, and three of his six homers this season have come against Detroit.
All the runs were unearned after first baseman Miguel Cabrera committed a two-out fielding error.
Adam Eaton's RBI triple added to the White Sox lead in the second.
Martinez's RBI single cut into the cushion in the fourth. Collins scored after he tripled when Garcia fell down attempting to make the catch in right field. The White Sox doubled up Martinez at first base on a fly to right.
Simon has two victories in seven starts after beginning the season with four consecutive wins.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: The team has not announced when RHP Justin Verlander (triceps strain) will make his next start. He struck out nine and allowed an unearned run in 5 2-3 innings Saturday in possibly his final rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo. Manager Brad Ausmus said he was waiting to hear from Verlander about how he felt.
White Sox: LHP Dan Jennings went on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation on the left side of his neck. The move is retroactive to Friday. He is 1-2 with a 7.83 ERA in 22 relief appearances. . Chicago purchased the contract of RHP Junior Guerra from Triple-A Charlotte. Guerra has yet to appear in the majors and is 2-6 with a 2.72 ERA in 12 games between Charlotte and Double-A Birmingham.
UP NEXT
Tigers: After an off day Monday, RHP Anibal Sanchez (3-7, 5.69 ERA) will start Tuesday to open a two-game interleague series against the Chicago Cubs.
White Sox: LHP Chris Sale (5-2, 3.27) starts Monday in the opener of a three-game series against the Houston Astros.
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