White Sox Losing Skid Reaches 10
DETROIT (AP) — Torii Hunter's RBI single in the 12th inning gave the Detroit Tigers a 3-2 victory over the White Sox on Sunday, extending Chicago's losing streak to 10 games.
Miguel Cabrera, who has been dealing with hip and abdominal problems, led off the Detroit 12th with a pinch-hit single. Matt Tuiasosopo ran for him and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Austin Jackson. Hunter, who also appeared to have the day off before entering late in the game as a replacement, lined a single to left-center off Dylan Axelrod (3-8) to win it.
Bruce Rondon (1-1) pitched two scoreless innings for his first career win.
The Tigers have won 12 of 13.
Adam Dunn homered and had four hits for Chicago. Paul Konerko added a solo homer in the ninth for the White Sox to force extra innings.
Detroit takes a three-game lead in the AL Central into a four-game series at second-place Cleveland.
The White Sox have lost 10 straight for the first time since June of 1976. They were aggressive early on, and it ended up backfiring.
With one out in the first, Alexei Ramirez left first base early, trying to steal second. Pitcher Rick Porcello eventually realized what was happening and stepped off the rubber, catching Ramirez in a rundown.
The next three hitters reached base on two singles and a walk, but Chicago stranded them all and came out of the inning with no runs.
Detroit had men on second and third with one out in the second, but Jose Iglesias struck out and Ramon Santiago hit a grounder to first.
Dunn put the White Sox ahead 1-0 with a majestic drive in the fourth. His 26th homer of the year cleared both levels of bushes behind the wall in center field, disappearing into the ivy that also serves as a hitting backdrop at Comerica Park.
Chicago's Andre Rienzo, making his second big league start, still hadn't allowed an earned run in the majors until the Tigers broke through in the seventh. Alex Avila hit an RBI double, and Santiago added a sacrifice fly to give Detroit a 2-1 lead.
Chicago second baseman Gordon Beckham made a terrific sliding catch with his back to the plate on Prince Fielder's eighth-inning popup. That helped keep the White Sox within a run.
Detroit shortstop Jhonny Peralta — who faces a possible suspension from Major League Baseball's drug investigation — made a nice catch of Ramirez's soft liner in the 10th to start a double play.
Porcello allowed a run and eight hits in 7 2-3 innings. He struck out four and walked one. Reliever Drew Smyly allowed Konerko's homer in the ninth.
Rienzo allowed two runs and four hits in six-plus innings. He struck out three and walked three.
NOTES: Jackson's grounder up the middle in the sixth appeared to hit Rienzo's throwing hand, but the Brazilian right-hander stayed in the game. ... Santiago, Detroit's second baseman, stayed in the game after diving to his right to make a nice play on Conor Gillaspie's grounder in the fourth. It initially looked as if he'd hurt his right leg.
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