Tigers Beat Sox, Avoid Sweep At U.S. Cellular
CHICAGO (AP) — Miguel Cabrera hit a towering three-run homer and the Detroit Tigers ended a three-game skid, beating the Chicago White Sox 6-4 Wednesday.
A year after winning the Triple Crown, Cabrera has 38 homers and 114 RBIs and is hitting .360.
The AL Central-leading Tigers had lost four of five following a 12-game winning streak.
Despite surrendering a season-high 11 hits, Tigers starter Rick Porcello (9-6) allowed just three runs in six innings.
The White Sox closed to 6-4 in the eighth on an RBI single by Alexei Ramirez to make it 6-4.
Taking no chances, Tigers manager Jim Leyland brought in closer Joaquin Benoit with one out in the eighth. Benoit struck out Adam Dunn and Avisail Garcia, the worked out of another jam in the ninth inning for his 15th save in 15 chances.
John Danks (2-10) pitched into the eighth.
Porcello surrendered three runs and four hits in the first, needing 40 pitches to get the first three outs of. Garcia and Conor Gillaspie had RBI singles and the other run came on a sacrifice fly by Jeff Keppinger.
That's where the score stayed until the top of the third when Cabrera launched a majestic drive that sailed high above the left-field fence to tie the score at 3.
The Tigers then broke the game open with three more runs in the sixth. Omar Infante drove in the go-ahead run with a single and two more scored on an error at third base by Gillaspie.
NOTES: Cabrera was in the lineup in his customary places (batting third, playing third base), but Leyland acknowledged the slugger hurt himself sliding into first base in the 11th inning on Tuesday. "He's not OK. We'll see," Leyland said before the game. ... Ramirez had an infield single in the first to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. ... With a day game following an extra-inning night game, manager Robin Ventura gave White Sox veteran Paul Konerko the day off. "Guys at that age get a little tighter a day game after a night game," Ventura said. "Let him have a little spa day."
(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)
