Defensive breakdowns cost White Sox win over Tigers originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Eric Haase’s sacrificial fly in the 10th inning gave the Detroit Tigers a 6-5 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.
Alex Lange (3-0) threw a scoreless top from the 10th, and Jonathan Schoop’s long ball past Reynaldo Lopez (4-4) moved Spencer Torkelson to third with one out.
Akil Baddoo was intentionally walked on and Haase hit a deep center ball to score Torkelson easily.
“I’m just trying to put something up in the air, obviously, but it all started with Lange,” Haase said. “He hits two guys on the top of the inning to give us a big chance to win.”
The Tigers trailed 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, but Riley Greene hit a one-out triple on Joe Kelly. Javier Baez followed with a short grounder. Tim Anderson didn’t field it cleanly and had to throw first, allowing Greene to score the tying run.
“It’s a really tough game for (Anderson),” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “I’m not even sure he had a chance. I’ll watch the tape tonight.”
Detroit led 4-1 after Baddoo’s third-inning grand slam against Dylan Cease.
“I was expecting a fast ball in the zone, and it was a really good pitch, but I had a good swing on it,” he said.
The Tigers bullpen couldn’t hold the lead in the seventh.
The White Sox charged with one out in the seventh, bringing in Jose Cisnero to replace Will Vest. Eloy Jimenez hit a brace down the left field line, drawing the White Sox to 4-3.
Luis Robert Jr. failed at third and Anderson beat Zach McKinstry’s pitch to home plate. Andrew Vaughn added a sacrifice fly to give Chicago a 5-4 lead.
Jimenez went 1-3 with two walks and two runs scored in his first game since going on the May 6 disabled list with appendicitis.
“You can see how much Eloy means to our team,” Grifol said. “He took his walks, he got us a big hit and he was great on base. It’s great to find him. »
Quitting avoided a rare loss to the Tigers. He entered the game 10-1 with a 1.72 ERA in 13 career starts against the Tigers, including 6-0 at Comerica Park. Cease allowed four runs on four hits and four walks in four innings, striking out eight.
Tigers ace Eduardo Rodriguez allowed one run on five hits and two walks in six innings. He’s 4-2 with a 1.40 ERA in his last nine starts.
The Tigers charged the bases in the second, but Zack Short flew to the wall on the left. The White Sox took advantage of the next inning, Romy Gonzalez fielding his first homer of the year in the Tigers bullpen.
In the eighth, Burger nearly homered, but Greene reached the center field fence to bring the ball back.
“I don’t know if anyone noticed, but he’s a really good player,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said of his 22-year-old center. “He’s a guy who can make a difference on both sides of the ball.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
The White Sox activated Jiménez and opted for Adam Haseley in Triple-A Charlotte. Jiménez was hitting .258 with four homers in 25 games in his last game on May 5.
LIKE THE DESIGN
When the Tigers stepped in and lowered the center field fence this season, one of the reasons given was to give Greene more chances to steal homers, just like he did to Burger in the eighth.
Big Park is also playing well with their attacking game. His ninth-inning triple was his third of the season — the only three the Tigers have hit.
FOLLOWING
Chicago begins a three-game home series with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night. Michael Kopech (3-4, 4.24) will pitch for the White Sox against Griffin Canning (3-2, 4.95).
The Tigers stay at home for three games against the Texas Rangers. Matthew Boyd (3-3, 5.74) will start Monday afternoon’s opener for them against Nathan Eovaldi (6-2, 2.60).
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