Sale Leads White Sox Past Tigers, 6-2
Chicago (AP) — Chris Sale scattered nine hits in his fourth complete game of the season, and the Chicago White Sox overcame Miguel Cabrera's fourth homer in fourth games to beat the Detroit Tigers 6-2 on Monday night.
Josh Phegley, Gordon Beckham and Alexei Ramirez singled in runs in a three-run fifth inning as Chicago handed AL Central-leading Detroit its third loss in four games.
Beckham and Jeff Keppinger each had three hits. Phegley added a second RBI single and Alejandro De Aza hit a sacrifice fly in a two-run eighth that put away the game.
Sale (8-11) struck out six and walked none, winning his second straight start after going 1-9 in his previous 11. He settled down after allowing runs in the first and second.
Cabrera went 2 for 4 with a homer in the first. The AL leader in batting, RBIs and runs scored is second in homers with 37.
Brayan Pena doubled in Detroit's other run. The Tigers still have won 17 of their last 21, and 26 of 36 dating to July 2.
Tigers starter Doug Fister (10-6) gave up four runs on eight hits and three walks in six innings, after facing just nine hitters and allowing one hit through the first three.
Fister lost following a run of five straight quality starts. He was 4-0 during that span and allowed just seven runs in 34 innings.
The White Sox, in last place in the AL Central, enjoyed rare success against a division rival and snapped a three-game losing streak against Detroit. They are just 14-34 overall against the division this season and have lost 23 of 28 to AL Central opponents.
After Sale retired the first two hitters, Cabrera lofted his next pitch just over the right-field fence.
Pena doubled in Matt Tuiasosopo with two outs in the second to extend Detroit's lead to 2-0.
Fister cruised through the first three innings, but control problems cost him a run in the fourth.
With two outs, Fister walked Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko back-to-back to load the bases. With Avisail Garcia at the plate, Fister threw his second wild pitch of the inning, allowing Beckham to score from third.
Garcia lined softly to first baseman Prince Fielder to end the threat.
Chicago scored three times in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. After Keppinger led off with a double, Phegley, Beckham and Ramirez all delivered RBI singles. Beckham's single deflected of Fister's foot.
Detroit second baseman Omar Infante returned to the lineup and batted seventh after being on the disabled list for more than a month with sprained left ankle. To make room, the Tigers optioned infielder Hernan Perez to Triple-A Toledo before the game.
Detroit's Jose Iglesias made a sensational barehanded play to throw out Phegley with one out in the sixth. Phegley's chopper appeared to deflect off Fister, but Iglesias dove and threw to first from midair.
Notes: RHP Justin Verlander is slated to start the first game of the Tigers' doubleheader Friday against Kansas City. Manager Jim Leyland hasn't announced a starter for the second game, but said: "It's someone who's not here." . Detroit also announced the injury rehabilitation assignment of right-hander Octavio Dotel had been transferred from the Gulf Coast League Tigers to Class A Lakeland. "He's doing OK and he doesn't have pain," Leyland said. ... Following a deal last Friday that sent OF Alex Rios to Texas for cash and INF Leury Garcia, the possibility of the White Sox trading veteran players for younger talent dominated the pregame discussion with Chicago manager Robin Ventura "You see the way we're going: It's more younger guys than getting guys that are older," Ventura said. "It would be nice to have some guys who could play multiple positions and are a little bit quicker.". Batting practice was called off as thunderstorms moved through the area, but the game started on time under a blue sky at 7:10 CT.
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