Entering the top of the ninth, it seemed as though the White Sox were on their way to a humdrum, 6-2 loss to the Tigers, but Jose Abreu had other ideas. Billy Hamilton, pinch-hitting for Zack Collins, led the inning off with a single to right. Tim Anderson made it back-to-back singles to right field with one of his own off Tiger closer Gregory Soto and give the Sox runners at first and third, nobody out. After Danny Mendick struck out (pinch hitting for Gavin Sheets), Jose Abreu, took a liking to an 0-1 slider that did this:
That made the score 6-5 Tigers, and the Sox weren't done. Brian Goodwin struck out for the inning's second out, but Leury Garcia walked to put the tying run on base and Andrew Vaughn at the plate representing the go-ahead run. In came Tiger reliever Joel Cisnero to close things out, and close them out he did: Vaughn hit a well-struck ball to right field, but near enough to Robbie Grossman to end the game.
The comeback effort nearly got starter Lucas Giolito off the hook for the loss. Giolito, unfortunately, didn't look particularly sharp today giving up all 6 Tiger runs on a season-high 10 hits. In part this was due to mediocre command of his changeup that the Tigers were able to dink and slash all over the field, and in part perhaps a drop in spin rate also contributes. Per Josh:
The Tigers got off to a fast start, scoring four runs in the first two innings. In the first Akil Baddoo led off with an infield single moving away from Leury Garcia, who couldn't get enough momentum to get it to first in time. Baddoo then swiped second base, moved to third on a groundout by Jonathan Schoop, and scored on a Robbie Grossman groundout to shortstop Tim Anderson.
Then in the second, Jeimer Candelario led off with a single to left and White Sox tormentor Eric Haase doubled to left to give the Tigers runners at second and third and nobody out. Daz Cameron walked to load the bases, then Harold Castro singled to put the Tigers up 2-0. After a Zack Short strikeout, Akil Baddoo smacked a double of his own to right field on a changeup that split the plate and make it 4-0. The Tigers might have gotten more, but Leury Garcia cut down Castro at the plate off a halfway-swing grounder from Schoop. Robbie Grossman struck out to end the inning.
While the Tigers wouldn't score in the third, Eric Haase nearly added to the lead but for a terrific leaping grab by Adam Eaton and relay to first to double off Candelario:
An uneventful fourth led to Giolito's undoing in the fifth. Schoop led off with a bloop single to right field and Robbie Grossman bunted him over to second. Cabrera then groundout to shortstop, and Tim Anderson saved another run: ranging deep into the hole --essentially short left field--, Anderson was able to snag the grounder and throw to first in time for the second out. Candelario then doubled to right to put the Tigers up 5-2, and Eric Haase singled to right to give the Tigers the four-run advantage, 6-2. Daz Cameron ground to third to end the inning and Giolito's day was done: 5 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 5 Ks. In all Giolito threw 66 of his 102 pitches for strikes with 21 swings and misses. His ERA is 4.20.
It isn't as though the White Sox offense didn't have their opportunities, however. They had 8 hits through the first four innings, coming away with just two runs. Entering the ninth, they were just 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position. Rookie righty Matt Manning was on the mound for the Tigers, and Tim Anderson led the game off with a single to center. Gavin Sheets then singled to left field and up came Jose Abreu. On a 1-2 count, Abreu smoked a slider 111 MPH off the bat that looked like it would get through, but shortstop Zack Short made a great pick to turn the 6-4-3 double play.
In the third, the White Sox got on the board. Anderson singled yet again to center field to lead off the inning and after Gavin Sheets moved him to second on a groundout, Abreu singled to right to get the White Sox on the board, 4-1. Brian Goodwin singled to right to put runners at the corners and Leury Garcia hit a sac fly to make it 4-2. Andrew Vaughn joined the singles party, hitting a ball up the middle and again giving the Sox runners at the corners. Rather than have Manning face Adam Eaton, A.J. Hinch brought on Tyler Alexander who induced a groundout to end the threat.
The fourth was the last inning before the ninth where the Sox truly threatened. Jake Burger walked to lead off the inning, then Zack Collins singled up the middle to give the Sox runners at first and second and nobody out. Unfortunately, Tim Anderson ground into a 4-6-3 double play and Gavin Sheets struck out for the third out.
Game Notes
- Matt Manning's line: 2.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, no Ks on 60 pitches.
- Prior to Soto's meltdown in the 9th, Tiger relievers combined for 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 Ks.
- Jake Burger hit a triple in the sixth that was great to see from a guy with two ACL tears.
Record: 49-34 Box Score
