McCann's 9th-Inning Homer Gives Tigers A 5-4 Win Over White Sox
DETROIT (AP) — James McCann hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to complete a dramatic Detroit comeback, and the Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox, 5-4, on Sunday.
Detroit trailed 4-0 before scoring four runs in the eighth off Chicago starter Jeff Samardzija. Victor Martinez tied it with a three-run double.
Joakim Soria (3-0) pitched a perfect top of the ninth, and McCann's one-out drive off Zach Putnam (1-3) cleared the fence in left field to end the game.
It was McCann's third homer of the year and his first since May 21, when the rookie catcher went deep in the 11th inning to beat Houston.
Samardzija allowed only two hits over the first seven innings, but he couldn't make it through the middle of the Detroit order in the eighth.
Samardzija was breezing along until McCann started the bottom of the eighth with a single. After a walk by Jose Iglesias and a single by Anthony Gose, the Chicago right-hander hit Ian Kinsler to force home the first Detroit run.
Miguel Cabrera struck out, but Martinez found the gap in right-center to clear the bases on Samardzija's 110th and final pitch.
Melky Cabrera homered and had three hits for the White Sox, who scored two runs each in the fourth and sixth. Detroit's David Price allowed four runs and six hits in six innings. He struck out five.
Price allowed only one hit through the first three innings, but Jose Abreu led off with a double in the fourth — then advanced to third when Detroit's Yoenis Cespedes fell over while picking up the ball at the fence in left for an error. Avisail Garcia followed with a sacrifice fly, and Melky Cabrera made it 2-0 with his second homer of the season.
Adam Eaton tripled to start Chicago's sixth-inning rally. He scored on Garcia's single, and Adam LaRoche added a sacrifice fly.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: Abreu looked as if he was in a bit of discomfort after reaching third base in the fourth, but he stayed in the game. He also remained in after being hit by a pitch in the sixth.
Tigers: C Alex Avila (left knee) caught for Triple-A Toledo on Sunday and went 1 for 3 as part of his rehab assignment.
UP NEXT
Both teams are off Monday.
White Sox: Ace Chris Sale (6-4) takes the mound at St. Louis on Tuesday night. Lance Lynn (5-4) starts for the Cardinals. Sale is the fourth pitcher in major league history to strike out 10 or more in at least seven consecutive starts, a streak that began May 23.
Tigers: Detroit hasn't listed a probable starter Tuesday against Pittsburgh's Gerrit Cole (11-3). The Tigers have been hopeful that RHP Justin Verlander (0-1) can return from a back issue that night.
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