Tigers complete sweep of White Sox
DETROIT -- Justin Verlander held Chicago to five hits over seven innings, two of them solo home runs, but struggling Justin Upton negated those with a two-run double at the end of a four-run fifth inning Sunday to help the Detroit Tigers complete a three-game sweep of the White Sox with a 5-2 victory.
Shane Greene worked his second perfect inning of relief in as many days since coming off the disabled list and Francisco Rodriguez converted his 17th straight save to help Detroit defeat its third straight southpaw after entering the series with a 3-8 record against left-handers.
Verlander (5-5) allowed a two-out home run to Jose Abreu, his seventh, in the first and a second solo shot to Todd Frazier, his 18th, with two out in the sixth. Verlander walked one and struck out eight.
The White Sox are now 6-18 after their 23-10 start.
The Tigers squared the score, 1-1, with two out in the third when Cameron Maybin walked and scored on a double to left by Miguel Cabrera.
Upton, trying to work his way out of a season of disappointment, sat on a 3-0 fastball with two out in the fifth and drove it sharply into extreme left field for his bases-loaded, two-run double to increase Detroit's lead to 5-1. It was his second hit of the game.
Ian Kinsler had singled with one out and stopped at third when Maybin's soft pop fly dropped into right for a double. Cabrera was walked intentionally and, after Victor Martinez popped out foul to first for the second out, lefty Jose Quintana walked J.D. Martinez on a 3-2 pitch to break the 1-1 tie.
Nick Castellanos hit a sharp infield single to short that made it 3-1 and Upton, who sat out Saturday's game as a mental day off because he was hitting .214, lined his double to left to chase Quintana (5-6).
Miguel Gonzalez got the final out and pitched the sixth in his first bullpen appearance after being bumped from the rotation by Chicago's acquisition of James Shields. Quintana allowed nine hits, walked three (one intentionally) and struck out four.
NOTES: RHP James Shields, just acquired from San Diego by Chicago, will make his first start for the White Sox on Wednesday, manager Robin Ventura said Sunday. ... Tigers manager Brad Ausmus would prefer a power guy in the No. 2 spot in his batting order but for now is sticking with CF Cameron Maybin, a contact hitter. ... The White Sox are shifting RHP Miguel Gonzalez to the bullpen to make room for Shields in the rotation. ... The Tigers have an eight-pitcher bullpen, one more than usual, but it is still tight because two of them are struggling, RHP Mark Lowe and RHP Anibal Sanchez.