Tigers 7, White Sox 4
DETROIT -- Justin Verlander pitched seven strong innings and Victor Martinez blasted his 200th career home run to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 7-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday afternoon at Comerica Park.
Verlander (4-8), who struck out eight, held the White Sox to three runs and five hits in his final home start of the season. Martinez, the Tigers' designated hitter, gave Verlander an early cushion with his two-run shot in the first inning.
Left fielder Rajai Davis, whose walkoff triple gave Detroit a 2-1, 10-inning victory on Tuesday, supplied three hits and scored three runs. Right fielder J.D. Martinez added a two-run double and Neftali Feliz notched his eighth save for the Tigers (71-81).
Left fielder Melky Cabrera had three hits, including his 100th career home run, and drove in three runs for the White Sox (72-80). Frankie Montas (0-1) gave up six runs and six hits in his first major league start.
Chicago third baseman Mike Olt exited in the fifth inning with right shoulder discomfort.
With Davis aboard and two outs, Victor Martinez drilled a 1-0 pitch over the right-field wall for his milestone homer.
The Tigers piled up four more runs against Montas in the third to make it 6-0. Detroit loaded the bases with one out and J.D. Martinez ripped a ground-rule double down the left-field line. Third baseman Nick Castellanos' RBI single and first baseman Alex Avila's run-scoring groundout completed the outburst.
Cabrera's two-out homer just over the right-field wall in the fourth cut the Tigers' lead to 6-2.
Davis smacked a two-out triple and second baseman Ian Kinsler followed with a run-scoring single in the bottom of the inning.
Chicago shortstop Alexei Ramirez had an RBI double in the seventh. The White Sox loaded the bases later in the inning, but Verlander snuffed out the threat by firing a 98 mph pitch past catcher Geovany Soto.
NOTES: Detroit 1B Miguel Cabrera was given the day off to rest a lower back ailment, manager Brad Ausmus said. Ausmus is hopeful that by holding Cabrera out, coupled with Thursday's schedule day off, he'll be available this weekend against Minnesota. ... The Tigers' 38 victories against Central Division opponents entering the game matched the division-leading Kansas City Royals for the most wins by an American League team in its division this season. ... White Sox LHP Chris Sale will start the first game of a four-game series against the New York Yankees on Thursday. The team's ace has lost his last three starts. ... Chicago LHP Jose Quintana got his 51st career no decision on Tuesday, the most by any starter during a four-year span in baseball history. ... White Sox relievers were 1-3 with a 6.02 ERA in the last 14 games.