Collins fuels Tigers to sweep of White Sox
DETROIT -- Pinch hitter Tyler Collins hit a game-winning sacrifice fly as the Detroit Tigers swept a three-game series from the Chicago White Sox with a 3-2 victory on Wednesday afternoon at Comerica Park.
Rookie JaCoby Jones, who was playing in his second major-league game, led off the bottom of the ninth with a double against David Robertson (4-3). Jones advanced to third on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's long fly out.
Catcher Alex Avila made a nifty stop when Robertson bounced a pitch in the dirt against Collins, who hit the next pitch to left center to allow Jones to score.
Francisco Rodriguez (3-4) tossed an inning of scoreless relief to pick up the win.
Detroit starter Justin Verlander gave up back-to-back homers to Jose Abreu and Avila in the fourth but only allowed one other baserunner in his seven-inning stint. He walked none and struck out nine.
Chicago starter Chris Sale gave up two runs on eight hits in eight innings. He tied his season high with four walks while striking out six.
Verlander was cruising along until the fourth inning. Saltalamacchia made a diving catch against Justin Morneau for the second out but the next two batters put the ball out of reach.
Abreu smacked his 19th homer of the season into the left-field stands. Avila, Verlander's long-time batterymate, hit a majestic blast into the shrubbery above the center-field wall.
The Tigers had plenty of traffic on the bases in the early going but hit into three double plays in the first four innings. They had a breakthrough of sorts in the fifth, when Jones led off with a double and scored on Andrew Romine's single. Detroit stranded two runners in that inning when Sale struck out Victor Martinez.
That was Sale's first strikeout of the game after recording a season-high 14 against Seattle in his last start.
Sale picked up steam in the seventh, striking out the side.
The Tigers tied it in the eighth. Ian Kinsler drilled a leadoff double and advanced on a sacrifice. Sale struck out Victor Martinez again but J.D. Martinez followed with a sharp single to left, making it 2-2.
NOTES: Detroit 1B Miguel Cabrera was not in the starting lineup because of a minor ankle issue. Manager Brad Ausmus said Cabrera's surgically-repaired right ankle flared up in recent days and wanted to give him two days off his feet. The Tigers have an off-day on Thursday. ... Tigers RHP Bruce Rondon, who collected the win on Tuesday, has not allowed a run in 11 of his last 12 appearances. ... White Sox LF Melky Cabrera was a late scratch due to stomach discomfort. He left Tuesday's game in the eighth inning after feeling dehydrated. ... Chicago lost nine of its last 10 games at Comerica Park. ... White Sox RF Adam Eaton has 17 outfield assists, tying him with Pittsburgh's Starling Marte for the major league lead. ... Detroit begins at three-game series at Kansas City on Friday. The Tigers are 2-5 at Kauffman Stadium this season.