Tigers 5, White Sox 4
DETROIT -- James McCann drove an 0-2 pitch from Chicago reliever Zach Putnam over the left field wall for his third home run of the year and second walk-off winner to give the Detroit Tigers a 5-4 victory over the White Sox.
The home run rewarded Detroit right-handed reliever Joakim Soria (3-0), who pitched a scoreless top of the ninth. Putnam (1-3) had come in during the eighth to shut off a Tigers' four-run rally and gotten the first out of the ninth before McCann hit his game-winner.
The rookie Detroit catcher also hit a walk-off home run to beat Houston on May 21.
Designated hitter Victor Martinez tied the score with a first-pitch three-run double to the wall in right center with one out in the eighth. Second baseman Ian Kinsler, hit by a 1-1 pitch with the bases loaded to score Detroit's first run of the game, was two steps in back of center fielder Anthony Gose all the way in from second.
McCann singled to start the rally, just the third hit of the game off right-handed Chicago starter Jeff Samardzija, and shortstop Jose Iglesias walked on a close 3-2 pitch before Gose singled up the middle to load the bases.
Samardzija had taken a two-hit shutout into the eighth before trouble struck. He walked three and struck out four.
Putnam relieved after the Martinez double and struck out left fielder Yoenis Cespedes and got right fielder J.D. Martinez to foul out to first to end the inning.
Center fielder Adam Eaton tripled down the right field line in the sixth and designated hitter Jose Abreu was hit by a pitch. Right fielder Avisail Garcia lined a single over second to put Chicago ahead, 3-0, and first baseman Adam LaRoche hit a sacrifice fly to left for a 4-0 lead.
Abreu doubled down the left field line in the fourth and advanced to third when Cespedes of Detroit fell down trying to throw the ball to third. Garcia's sacrifice fly to left broke a scoreless tie and left fielder Melky Cabrera made it 2-0 with a solo home run, his second, on a 2-2 pitch by left-hander David Price, who lasted six innings and struck out five without a walk. Four of the six hits he allowed were turned into Chicago runs.
NOTES: Tigers RHP Justin Verlander was on track to return to Detroit's rotation Tuesday against visiting Pittsburgh, pending confirmation from the pitcher that his sore back is OK. ... White Sox DH Jose Abreu, who normally hits third, was in the second spot Sunday. ... Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera is the fifth player in major league history to have at least 2,200 hits, 400 home runs, 1,400 RBIs and 900 extra-base hits by his age 32 season (Hank Aaron, Jimmie Foxx, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols). ... White Sox LHP John Danks, bypassed in the rotation after his start Saturday was rained out, will return to the rotation on Friday, manager Robin Ventura said.