White Sox Jump On Verlander Early, Win 8-2
DETROIT (AP) Gavin Floyd allowed six hits into the eighth inning, outpitching Justin Verlander and leading the Chicago White Sox to an 8-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
Carlos Quentin had three hits and three RBIs for the White Sox. Chicago scored four runs off Verlander in the third inning - more than the Detroit ace had allowed in any start since May 24.
Verlander (12-5) threw six innings, his shortest outing since that same date.
Floyd (7-9) allowed two runs - one earned - and struck out five in 7 2-3 innings. He walked one.
Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer for Detroit in the fourth, and later added a single for his 1,500th career hit.
Verlander allowed five runs - four earned - on seven hits. He walked two and struck out six.
The night began like most of Verlander's recent starts. He retired the first seven White Sox, striking out three.
Gordon Beckham lined a single to left field, giving Chicago its first baserunner. Mark Teahen followed with a single up the middle and Juan Pierre bunted toward first base for a hit, driving in a run.
Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Adam Dunn pulled a grounder through an infield shift into right field for a two-run single.
Quentin's RBI single made it 4-0.
The White Sox improved to 9-16 against AL Central opponents this season. Detroit is 18-9 within the division, a big reason why the Tigers entered the night in a virtual tie for first with Cleveland.
Detroit is a game behind now. The White Sox trail the Indians by five.
Detroit scored two runs in the fourth when Magglio Ordonez struck out but reached on a passed ball, and Cabrera followed with his 19th homer of the season.
Chicago scored in the fifth when Pierre reached on an error by second baseman Ryan Raburn, went to third on a double by Alexei Ramirez and scored on a grounder by Quentin.
Quentin made it 6-2 with an RBI single in the seventh, and Beckham added a two-run single later in the inning.
Detroit finally knocked Floyd out of the game with two out in the eighth. Brian Bruney came on and faced one batter, walking Cabrera to load the bases before Will Ohman struck out Victor Martinez to end the threat.
NOTES: The White Sox snapped a six-game losing streak at Detroit. . Cabrera received a nice ovation from the sellout crowd at Comerica Park after hit No. 1,500. He took off his helmet at first base to acknowledge the fans. . Tigers manager Jim Leyland started Don Kelly at 3B in place of the struggling Brandon Inge, who entered the game with a .184 average. Inge pinch-hit in the ninth and flied out to deep right. . Detroit CF Austin Jackson was a late scratch because of left wrist soreness.
Copyright 2011 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
