Tigers Look To Salvage Series Vs. White Sox
DETROIT - Before the All-Star break, the Chicago White Sox had little success against their own division and almost none versus the Detroit Tigers.
It's been a different story in the first two games after the break and the White Sox have a chance to sweep the Tigers for the first time in three years Sunday.
Chicago (46-48) was 8-16 versus AL Central opponents before this weekend and that seemed unlikely to change against Detroit (49-45). The Tigers had won 11 of 12 matchups - five of six this season - and six in a row at Comerica Park.
The White Sox have started to reverse both trends by outscoring Detroit 13-2 over the past two games. All-Star outfielder Carlos Quentin is 6 for 9 with four RBIs during the series and hit a solo homer in a 5-0 victory Saturday. Juan Pierre also had four hits and stole two bases during that game.
After those two wins, Chicago is hoping to find some more consistency.
"Every time we think we get something going, we find a way to fall back," catcher A.J. Pierzynski told the team's official website.
The Tigers, 18-8 against AL Central teams before the break, are hoping to get back on track with help from Brad Penny (6-6, 4.50 ERA), who is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts against Chicago this season. He yielded one hit over seven innings during a 9-0 win at Comerica on April 23.
The right-hander overcame a shaky first inning to earn the win in his last outing July 6 against the Los Angeles Angels. Penny gave up three runs and four straight hits in that opening frame, and a run and two hits in his 5 1-3 subsequent innings to earn his first win since beating the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on June 5.
"When I was younger, I probably wouldn't have lasted three innings," he told the Tigers' official website said. "With this team, we can win a game with three runs (allowed)."
Philip Humber (8-5, 3.10) didn't last four innings in his most recent start, a 6-2 loss to Minnesota on July 7. The right-hander gave up career highs of six runs and 11 hits in 3 2-3 innings.
"It was not a whole lot of fun out there," Humber said. "Even when I did execute my pitches, it seemed like they were putting the barrel on the ball. It was just a tough one."
Humber, who was 7-2 with a 2.32 ERA in his previous 12 outings, has never started against the Tigers but pitched 5 1-3 scoreless innings over two appearances.
He might have a chance to rebound as Detroit is 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position during the series and hitting .210 overall the past three games.
The White Sox haven't swept a three-game series over the Tigers since April 4-6, 2008, at Comerica. They also won both games of a rescheduled doubleheader in September of that year and another makeup game near the end of season.
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